Reviews (2)

More than documentary, a must for any film buff
Deafness merely happens to be the subject of this extraordinary documentary. Sensitive and unobstrusive, good camera work, wonderful rhythm, great story telling, sense of humor, no axe to grind and thus all the more moving. All the same adjectives apply to Philibert's "La Moindre des choses" about patients at a clinic outside Paris rehearsing for a play.

An interesting look into the Deaf culture.
I am a student of American Sign Language, and saw this movie in my class. I was surprised at my reaction to forcing the children to learn to speak. According to my instructor, who herself is deaf, this is very true to life. I recommend this movie to parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing before making any decision about forcing a child to speak just so that they can be "normal". ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Good work, beautifully done
I was fortunate enough to see this lovely film in a theatre, rather than as a video/DVD rental.

Not much of obvious consequence seems to take place, but gradually we realise that learning and growing is taking place.

This beautiful film transports us all back to the days when we found that one teacher who inspired us to learn and grow. For me (more than 40 years ago) it was a young Miss Dey, and for the fortunate kids in the Auvergne it was Georges Lopez.

This is inspirational stuff and should not be missed.

Awesome & Incredible Captivation!!
When friends invited us to go with them to see a French documentary with subtitles, I wasn't sure what to expect...but dry and tedious came to mind. I couldn't have been more wrong!

I could watch this movie over and over and still get something more out of it each time. It ended too soon! The cinamatography is nothing short of spectacular. It is landscape photography come to life. It is portraiture with voices. And if you don't fall in love with Jo Jo, you have a heart of stone. You will become so drawn into this gem that you will feel as if you are sitting in the classroom yourself and observing what is happening first hand rather than watching a movie. And you will wish that every student in the world could have Mr. Lopez for a teacher. This movie should be required viewing for every teacher everywhere...and those who are not inspired by it should consider another profession.

It is difficult to appreciate this movie on all levels in one viewing...the artful cinematograpy, the beauty of the landscapes in all the seasons, the faces of the children, the wisdom of this wonderful teacher. This is on my list of most memorable movies...and I have a very short list. There aren't enough words to say how highly I recommend this. I'll be first in line to buy the video!

Etre et Avoir is a joy to watch
It is a pleasure to see the everyday events of classroom life in rural France unfold in all its varied details -- some momentous, some apparently trivial -- in Nicolas Philibert's gentle documentary.

It is a privilege indeed to see M Lopez at work, softspoken and consistently calm in manner, with a genuine affection for his students, and yet also having authority and commanding real respect. The schoolchildren themselves, making up a delightful cast of characters, both amuse us and move us.

A real joy.

The Best School
I don't know how we can clone M. Lopez, the incredibly great teacher in this one-room schoolhouse in France, but he is the answer to education's problems. And so is his charming schoolhouse. See this movie and then think about what throwing a few million at this school would accomplish. We need to find the Lopez's now graduating from our colleges and to make it worth their time to work with children like JoJo. He, by the way, will probably be President of France. A delightful movie whether you're interested in education or not.

An amazing, moving visual experience
(Reviewing the DVD version of this film)
I must admit, I was very sceptical about renting this movie. I feared another boring documentary, narrated by a dry, monotone, superimposed voice. Not the case at all! Wow, was I ever pleasantly surprised!

This movie is about the small community schools in France. This particular school is led by a loving wonderful teacher, for whom you may wish that you would have had or at least your children will have. The movie follows this classroom of kindergarteners to grade sixers for one year and shows the intimacy and development of this group of children with each other and their teacher. I fell in love with this group of students, especially young Jojo. He is a kindergarten student who is outgoing and charming. A lot of the film revolves around him and his interactions.

I would highly recommend this show. It will have you laughing and crying as you follow the development of these children under the tutelage of this amazing teacher. The cinematography and scenery are also breathtaking and make this movie experience well worth the rental or purchase price. Enjoy! ... Read more