To Be and to Have (2002)
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Review #1,213 |
THE SCOOP
Director: Nicolas Philibert
Plot: A documentary portrait of a one-room school in rural France, where the students (ranging in age from 4 to 11) are educated by a single dedicated teacher.
Genre: Documentary
Awards: Won 1 European Film Award - Best Documentary. Nom. for 1 BAFTA - Best Film not in the English Language.
Runtime: 104min
Rating: PG
International Sales: Les Films du Losange
IN RETROSPECT (Spoilers: NO)
Nicolas
Philibert is one of the unsung heroes of French documentary filmmaking, having
made such films as Louvre City (1990),
In the Land of the Deaf (1992) and Nenette (2010). His interests are varied, making films that
straddle between nature, art and social issues.
This particular work, To Be and to
Have, could be his defining piece.
Centering on
a group of students aged 4 to 11 at a small one-room school located in a rural
part of France, the documentary champions the dedication and passion of a
single teacher working there. His name
is Georges Lopez, and he has been teaching for two decades. His methods are straightforward yet tailored
specifically to each child. And as you will
see, his patience is unparalleled.
Remarkably calm yet insistent, he brings joy and meaning to the learning
process, inspiring the kids... and us.
As we watch To Be and to Have, we are not just
viewers, but become students of life. The
documentary shows us why education is so essential to humanity – it could
transform lives and the way we co-exist.
Imagine a world where all children grow up in a safe and nurturing
environment, free from prejudice and injustice, we will truly become a species
of compassion. But of course, that's an
impossible ideal when adults ru(i)n the world.
Philibert’s
camera keeps a slight distance from the subjects, but also inviting us to
partake in Georges’ lessons. The result
is quite special because the documentary feels like an intimate drama, as if it
was made like one. Georges’ warm and
kind personality also encourages us to be part of his space.
Comedy comes
out of day-to-day learning, or for some, experimenting with words, numbers,
shapes and patterns. I don’t remember
how I learnt when I was a toddler, but I’m pretty sure I was a comedian, making
my parents or preschool teachers chuckle (and occasionally scolding me) because
of my antics.
I think
that’s the value of To Be and To Have,
not just its documentary value, but being valuable in ways that remind us of
our shared humanity – we were raised once with love, and we shall raise others
with love too. This should be essential
viewing for all educators and parents in the world.
Verdict:
An emotionally tender and inspiring documentary that works like a
narrative, reminding us that life is a learning journey unto itself.
GRADE: B+
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