Times may have changed, but a few things remain stolidly the same — and one of them is the middle- school classroom. Whatever else is happening out there, the classroom continues to pack a bunch of teenagers into a confined space, prop a teacher at the head of the room, and shut the door hoping for universal discipline, academic fulfillment and all-round happiness — probably in that order. Pretty nice, if only it worked that way.
"Entre les murs" (the Japanese release title is: "Paris 20 Ku Bokutachino Kurasu") is a story immersed in the classroom's inherent optimism, staunch in the belief that in spite of adolescent hormonal upheaval clashing with educational bureaucracy to the tune of communication failure, the classroom is still a good place to be. At the very least, you'll learn something.
Directed by France's Laurent Cantet, "Entre les murs" (meaning "between walls") has the combustive energy and spirited friskiness of an inspired documentary, but in fact it's a work of fiction. The genius of the film translates to the genius of the characters — none of whom are professional actors, all of them connected to the inner-city school in Paris where the story unfolds. The protagonist Francois (Francois Begeaudeau) teaches French to a diverse group of 14 and 15 year olds, a motley crew of immigrant kids from ethnic neighborhoods.