Monsieur Lazhar

Cast: Fellag, Sophie Nelisse, Émilien Neron.  Run Time: 94 minutes Country: Canada Year: 2011

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Philippe Falardeau Monsieur Lazhar is one of the most gripping Québécois films of the last decade. The film has already received extraordinary attention, including Best Canadian Feature Film at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival ® as well as being named as Canada's submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards.  Following the tragic and shocking death of a Montreal schoolteacher, Bachir Lazhar (Fellag) - a middle-aged Algerian immigrant seeking political refuge in Quebec - swiftly pursues the opportunity to fill the sudden vacancy and come to the aid of the overworked principal and students affected by this tragedy. To these children in shock, Lazhar's traditional teaching methods may well provide the structure they need.