To Be and to Have

Name: To Be and to Have
Genre: Documentary
Released: TODO_MISSING
Rating: 97

2002, Documentary, 1h 45m

59 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

critics consensus

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

LaLee's Kin: The Legacy of Cotton

The Devil Came on Horseback

Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy With Time

Winged Migration

Sir! No Sir!

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

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
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- 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
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

To Be and to Have Photos

View All Photos (9)

Movie Info

In rural France, schoolteacher Georges Lopez educates 12 children, whose ages range from 4 to 11 years old. Over the course of a year, the soon-to-retire Lopez instructs them all in one small classroom with the traditional tools of French teaching: rote repetition and the dictation of literary passages for copying. As the seasons pass, Lopez must keep his students disciplined while preparing the older children for the exams that will determine their educational future.

Genre:

Documentary
Original Language:

French (Canada)
Director:

Nicolas Philibert
Producer:

Gilles Sandoz
Release Date (Theaters):

Sep 5, 2003 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA):

$775.6K
Runtime:

1h 45m
Distributor:

New Yorker Films
Sound Mix:

Surround, Dolby A

Cast & Crew

Alizé
Self

Axel
Self

Guillaume
Self

Johann
Self

JoJo
Self

Julien
Self

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for To Be and to Have

All Critics (59) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (2)

Full Review… Noel Murray The Dissolve

Full Review… Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness

Full Review… Peter Rainer New York Magazine/Vulture

Full Review… Jonathan Curiel San Francisco Chronicle

Full Review… Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer

Full Review… Michael Booth Denver Post

Full Review… James Verniere Boston Herald

Full Review… Joe Baltake Sacramento Bee

Full Review… Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Full Review… Kent Turner Film-Forward.com

Full Review… Matt Brunson Creative Loafing

Full Review… Donald Munro Fresno Bee

View All Critic Reviews (59)

Audience Reviews for To Be and to Have

Jun 26, 2013

Apparently there was a lot of talk about the teacher and whether he was all that he appears to be which is seemingly the perfect teacher. This film brings out all the warm feelings of nostalgia for those early days of learning with the first teachers that we loved. Incredibly sweet.

John B Super Reviewer
Oct 27, 2010

A beautiful and intimately touching documentary about a dedicated and caring teacher in a one-room school in rural France, The students with all their unique, colorful personalities range from ages 3 to 11 and all learn to live and learn alongside one another. There were two parts that caused me to tear up. Sometimes we follow the students into their homes and watch them do their homework and chores. Sometimes we watch them go on field trips and get into fights and then forgive each other. The teacher upholds a firm yet gentle and sensitive approach to the children. It was a wonderful film that re-ignited my passion once again to teach.

Dannielle A Super Reviewer
Jul 31, 2009

Rather superifical and elitest account I dare say. Of course, school and education works different for kids when there is a 8 to 1 teacher ration, a beautiful countryside outside, all time in the world etc. BUt life is not so simple as this movie is suggesting and I reckon all the desperate, depressed, overclouded, ultraurbanized and stressed out citizens and their children did not choose to become what they are, because it is not about choice but fate. Anyway, the movie instulted me and as I said, offers nothing but an elitest and very singular vision. H.

Henrik S Super Reviewer
Jul 26, 2009

Great doc about a single room schoolteacher in the French countryside. Simple, slow moving, but completely engrossing...

Grifty G Super Reviewer