Etre et Avoir

Nicolas Philibert, France, 2002, 104 minutes

Step into this magical documentary and spend a school year with Georges Lopez and his fourteen pupils in a small village school in the Auvergne.

Nicolas Philibert’s film shows school life from winter to summer, using images of the beautiful countryside and a non-invasive style of filming (there is only one interview in the film- the rest of the time Philibert just lets events happen) to create a heartwarming film that will make you smile. The French countryside has a laid back feel, where nothing is rushed and events happen at their own pace, a feeling that is very much felt in the film. This is an endearing look into the lives of a teacher and his pupils, from the mischievous Jojo (the star of the film in my opinion), to shy Nathalie. By the end of the film you’ll be wanting to know how they are now.

The cynics amongst you may feel that this is too saccharine and that a good documentary should show hardship and suffering as well as the good times, but by their very nature documentaries are very personal, biased creations. I have no doubt that the world portrayed in Être et Avoir is not a perfect representation of life in that school, but we get a glimpse of what life is like in a small rural community. We get to share their laughter and tears. We get to feel nostalgic and to wish we had teachers like Monsieur Lopez when we were younger.

Don’t watch this movie if you’re expecting an insightful look into the French Educational system. Watch it if you want to see an extraordinary teacher making a difference in the lives of his pupils, the kind of teacher that everyone should have.

Review by Karl "Carlito Baby" Byrne
Taken from EUFS Programme Spring 2004