Next up for Westport Flim Club is the 2012 Oscar nominated film, Monsieur Lazhar. This film is in the French language with English subtitles. Based on Evelyne de la Cheneliere’s 2002 one man play Bachir Lazhar, Monsieur Lazhar is a touching exploration of deep and painful issues such as death, injustice, and grief, which are carefully handled by director Philippe Falardeau with a gentle sensitivity and maturity that results in a moving film. Following the tragic suicide of a popular teacher in a Montreal public grade school, Algerian immigrant Bachir Lazhar presents himself at the principal’s office as a candidate for her replacement, claiming to have 19 years’ teaching experience. Immediately likeable, with his warm smile and kind eyes, Bachir’s character is compassionate and complex, ultimately helping his class come to terms with what has happened, allowing them to develop not only academically, but also emotionally.
Monsieur Lazhar will be screened at Westport Cineplex on Wednesday October 3 at 8.45pm. Westport Film Club screens eight films a year at Westport Cineplex. Annual membership of €40 covers all screenings. Entry to each film for non-members is €10.
