>
Monsieur Lahzar is a tender and thoughtful portrait of a man with hidden grief and also a compelling exploration of the teacher-student dynamic. Read critic reviews
What to know
You might also like
See More
The Salt of the Earth
Truman
Honeyland
Human Flow
Footnote
Where to watch Monsieur Lazhar
Watch Monsieur Lazhar with a subscription on Amazon Prime Video, rent on Apple TV, Vudu, or buy on Apple TV, Vudu.
Rate And Review
-
What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
-
Fandango
-
AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
-
Cinemark Coming Soon
We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
-
Regal Coming Soon
We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
-
Theater box office or somewhere else
Monsieur Lazhar Photos
Movie Info
A recent emigrant (Fellag) of Algeria takes over a Canadian classroom after a teacher's tragic death.
-
Rating: PG-13 (Mature Thematic Material|Brief Language|A Disturbing Image)
-
Genre: Drama
-
Original Language: French (Canada)
-
Director: Philippe Falardeau
-
Producer: Luc Déry, Kim McCraw
-
Writer: Philippe Falardeau
-
Release Date (Theaters): limited
-
Release Date (Streaming):
-
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.0M
-
Runtime:
-
Distributor: Music Box Films
Cast & Crew
News & Interviews for Monsieur Lazhar
Critic Reviews for Monsieur Lazhar
Audience Reviews for Monsieur Lazhar
-
At school, Simon(Emilien Neron) is assigned to get the milk when he discovers his beloved teacher hanging from the ceiling of her classroom. Even with the teachers trying to keep all the other students away, Alice(Sophie Nelisse) also witnesses the grisly sight. After the classroom is painted and a psychologist is hired, Ms. Vaillancourt(Danielle Proulx) has only one applicant to replace the teacher, Bachir Lazhar(Mohamed Fellag), who has not taught in quite a while. "Monsieur Lazhar" is a thoughtful and nuanced look at broken lives being put back together again in multicultural Montreal where differences are more based on age than anything else, with Bachir's back story coming out in fits and bursts. As familiar as some of the story elements may be, it is worth noting how in less sensitive hands it could have gone terribly wrong and didn't, even if one of the children seems straight out of central casting.(I think it's a nice touch that Alice's mom is an airline pilot, a traditionally male occupation.) But as well as the movie opens quickly and efficiently in setting up the story, the ending it just as perfunctory.
walter m Super Reviewer -
A refugee from Algeria goes to Montreal and takes over for a teacher who killed herself. A gentle film with an edge, Monsieur Lazhar features strong performances by Mohamed Fellag and his young class. There are many scenes that seem aimless until they're considered in the scope of the larger story. As a whole, the film is part of the teacher-as-hero genre, and while its anti-intellectualism is confined to the premise that a man with no training can succeed, Monsieur Lazhar is a nurturing love educator, thrown into an emotionally charged classroom with grief-demons of his own. Its thesis -- that there are times when educators are called on to be caring parental figures -- is ludicrous in reality, but I found it effective because of Fellag's soulful performance. I think the conflict is never fully resolved, which is a common complaint I have with French-language films. I think Lazhar should have had to expose his damage; these kids' emotional lives are on display for Lazhar, and it seemed logical that Lazhar would have to do likewise. The fable bit was an attempt, but the writing on this fable didn't go far enough. Overall, this is a strong film in a problematic genre.
-
Nice enough movie, just really slow. Definitely the kind that critics like....
-
Monsieur Lazhar is a brilliant and dramatic piece of filmmaking that takes us into the hearts and minds of people who are all in grief. Mohamed Fellag gives an outstanding performance and should be commended for his great work here. This film makes us review life at its hardest times, and I just fell right under this movies magic.
Verified