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To Be and to Have (Etre et Avoir) (2003)

tomatometer

97

Average Rating: 8.1/10
Reviews Counted: 58
Fresh: 56 | Rotten: 2

A small, sensitive, and moving portrait of a teacher and his students.

95

Average Rating: 8.1/10
Critic Reviews: 21
Fresh: 20 | Rotten: 1

A small, sensitive, and moving portrait of a teacher and his students.

audience

89

liked it
Average Rating: 4.1/5
User Ratings: 5,606

My Rating

Movie Info

A chronicle which follows an academic year in the lives of twelve school kids, ages 4-10, who are taught every subject, from math to gym, by one single dedicated teacher, Georges Lopez.

May 1, 2008

$0.5M

New Yorker Films

All Critics (65) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (56) | Rotten (3) | DVD (8)

It demonstrates without overreaching what an actual teacher can do to shape lives.

August 7, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Magazine | Comment
New York Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

One of those rare movies that works as a humbling experience.

June 4, 2004 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | Comment
Sacramento Bee
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A counterintuitive film about a small schoolhouse in rural France, To Be and to Have gets its punch from simple scenes and conversations.

January 30, 2004 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
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To Be and to Have is a movie every teacher should see, and every parent, too.

January 23, 2004 Comment
Philadelphia Inquirer
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At times, it feels as stultifying as watching paint dry, without the recompense of sniffing fumes.

January 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Denver Post | Comment
Denver Post
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Amounts to a rare gift and an opportunity to appreciate the end of an era.

November 21, 2003 Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The most unvarnished cinematic portrait of childhood I've ever seen.

May 4, 2005 Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | Comment
Lessons of Darkness

Its so-so audio/video treatment means the DVD isn't a keeper, but the film is good enough to merit at least a rental.

October 10, 2004 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

This is a film that all aspiring teachers should see, as well as veteran teachers who might have lost track of what teaching is all about.

May 4, 2004 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

As touching as Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939), this is an excellent companion to Spellbound, another beguiling documentary about children.

April 20, 2004 Full Review Source: Film-Forward.com | Comment
Film-Forward.com

The American school system would do well to take a page from Mr. Lopez's slow-but-steady curriculum.

March 10, 2004 Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | Comment
Creative Loafing

It isn't just an ode to teaching -- it's a lesson in growing up.

February 13, 2004 Comment
Fresno Bee

Auditing a class has never been more fun.

February 13, 2004 Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | Comment

More often than not you may find yourself unexpectedly smiling.

February 2, 2004 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for To Be and to Have (Etre et Avoir)

This is a very sweet and gentle documentary. A window into the lives of a very normal but lovely group of kids and their teacher. It's better than it sounds, honestly!

September 25, 2009
SirPant

Super Reviewer

A little cute & touching documentary

December 7, 2008
arashxak
Arash Xak

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Sein und Haben (DE)
  • Ętre Et Avoir (UK)
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