1. Official Website
2. Trailer

In Montreal, an elementary school teacher dies abruptly. Having learned of the incident in the newspaper, Bachir Lazhar (Fellag), a 55-year-old Algerian immigrant, goes to the school to offer his services as a substitute teacher. Quickly hired to replace the deceased, he finds himself in an establishment in crisis, while going through his own personal tragedy.

• Director: Philippe Falardeau
• Country: Canada
• Genre: Comedy, Drama
• Year: 2012

• Run Time: 01:34:22
• imdb Score: 7.7/10 (2,525 votes)
• Language: French
• Rating: PG-13

• Cast: Fellag, Sophie Nélisse and Émilien Néron

"What makes the film enthralling is the wisdom and grace with which it addresses the twin subjects of grief and healing, and the quiet beauty of Mohamed Fellag's performance in the title role."
Joe Morgenstern - THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

"Monsieur Lazhar doesn't send you home depressed. Instead, the film leaves you hopeful, and even exhilarated, that even the most painful wounds can sometimes heal."
Rene Rodriguez - THE MIAMI HERALD

"Monsieur Lazhar sustains an exquisite balance between grown-up and child’s-eye views of education, teacher-student relations and peer-group interactions. The students come quirkily alive in superb naturalistic performances devoid of cuteness and stereotyping. Like no other film about middle school life that I can recall Monsieur Lazhar conveys the intensity and the fragility of these classroom bonds and the mutual trust they require."
Stephen Holden - THE NEW YORK TIMES

AWARDS

Valladolid Int'l Film Festival 2011
Best Screenplay, FIPRESCI Prize

Genie Awards 2012
Best Picture, Direction, Actor, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Editing

FESTIVALS

Toronto Int'l Film Festival 2011

Sundance Film Festival 2012

Rotterdam Int'l Film Festival 2012

Locarno Film Festival 2011

Namur Film Festival 2011

Hamburg Film Festival 2011

Paris Semaine du Cinéma du Québec 2011

Luxembourg City Film Festival 2012