Entre les murs (English: The Class; lit. Between the Walls) is a film directed by Laurent Cantet, based on the 2006 novel of the same name by François Bégaudeau. The film received the Palme d’Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, making it the first French film in 21 years to do so. The last one was Sous le soleil de Satan by Maurice Pialat.
The novel is a semi-autobiographical account of Bégaudeau’s experiences as a literature teacher in an inner city middle school in Paris. The film stars François Bégaudeau in the role of the teacher.
A remarkable new film about what happens over the course of a year between a single collège (junior high or middle school) class in the multi-ethnic 20th arrondissment of Paris and their French teacher.
Director Laurent Cantet shot multiple improvised takes of real students and a real teacher using three cameras to make “The Class.”
The movie has mainly received positive reviews, achieving a 97% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Metacritic lists Entre les murs with a rating of 94, making it one of the best reviewed films of the year according to the website.
Production notes provided by Sony Pictures Classics.
The Class – Entre les Murs
Starring: François Bégaudeau, Nassim Amrabt, Laura Baquela, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi
Directed by: Laurent Cantet
Screenplay by: Robin Campillo, Laurent Cantet
Release: December 19, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language.
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Box Office Totals
Domestic: $2,882,700 (11.1%)
Foreign: $23,147,011 (88.9%)
Total: $26,029,711 (Worldwide)