This cocktail gives the film a pace never denied

A virtuoso film and ambiguous. Palme d'Or at Cannes.

On 25 may, a French film, "between walls", received the palme d'Or. Of the never-seen twenty-one years and "under the Sun of Satan" (1987), directed by Maurice Pialat. The country exultait. The serious question raised watermarked by the film how and what teach a class of PTA was quickly forgotten. A wind of optimism swept the objections of the Cassandras. Eighth graders proved wonderful actors, this was the principal. The "multi-ethnic" France horrible word realized a collaborative project: the French model was thus in good health, etc. A similar hoax was produced at the 1998 football World Cup. The victory of the French team "black-white-beur" wasn't the "evidence" that there was no problem of integration, exclusion, racism in French society "Between the walls" out today in more than 350 rooms: as sobering to see clear cells.

"Between the walls" is a "docudrama" virtuoso in the form of signed camera Laurent Cantet. The walls are those of a classroom, sometimes those of the College. The argument is thin, but enough: a young Professor of French at its fourth class, an area of priority education. Students of the Parisian collège Françoise Dolto play eighth graders with a breathtaking natural. They have repeated for several months, but the Director was able to leave free course to a dose of improvisation. This cocktail gives the film a pace never denied. The dialogues are the core of this film, that makes great use of plan-sequence. The exchanges are funny. Example: "it is too hot the question, if I ask you send me in Guantanamo. The Professor seems good composition. But, soon, the viewer laughs yellow. And questions.

Subject of society

It is this "nice" prof so much that it Unable to teach its students, its priority is to not lose foot. Then he speaks, he speaks. Its logor-rhée is a weapon of defence. He adds, he gives way to ease, rough language, sometimes vulgar, of her interlocutors. It deals with even two students of "pétasses", provoking an incident. It is taken at his own game. But he capitulated. Almost always. When a young student said memory that she doesn't like the France or that she has never wanted to be French he responded in substance: "me, I'm not always proud of my country...". "In summary,"between walls"is film brilliant in the form, demagogic on the merits. C'est the demagogy, "consisting of attitude to flatter the aspirations for the facility or the prejudices of the largest number to increase his popularity, obtain or maintain power" (Larousse).

As soon as its screening at Cannes, the film has become a subject of society. The philosopher Alain Finkielkraut sees the symbol of a crisis. "The civilization does not ask the language to be effective, to be direct, to allow each to tell straight what he has been on the heart or tripe (...)." Civilization calls the scruple, precision and courtesy. "It is exactly the reason why learning the language in was, until recently, by the major texts," he wrote in June in a forum at the "world".

"Cartoon".

The reaction of the philosopher, holding any Republican rigour is not surprising. Philippe Meirieu, Professor of education at the University Lyon-II light, spokesperson for educators aware opponent in the title of the "line" Finkielkraut it is more. "The film shows exactly what not to do in educational matters", he says (). The practice of the young Professor relies on "affect", he is "constantly led by students on their own ground, rather than pull them upwards, to culture and knowledge". Even the documentary appearance is "questionable", the portrait of the Chief of institution, "caricature". Philippe Meirieu is concerned that the film did "endorses the idea that there is one side authoritarianism, with the system of medals and exclusion, or on the other hand the pedagogy of François Marin".

The controversy should take a new turn these days. The adventure of "between the walls" continues outside Europe. Film has been selected to represent the France at the Oscars and he inaugurated Friday the New York Film Festival. Its title: "The Class".