Monsieur Lazhar
Monsieur Lazhar Image
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Metascore
83 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 31 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Danielle Proulx, Émilien Néron, Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nélisse
  • Summary: Monsieur Lazhar tells the story of a Montreal middle school class shaken by the death of their well-liked teacher. Bachir Lazhar, a 55-year-old Algerian immigrant, offers the school his services as a substitute teacher and is quickly hired. As he helps the children heal, he also learns to accept his own painful past. (Music Box Films)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Ann Hornaday
    May 3, 2012
    100
    Monsieur Lazhar resembles a clear, clean glass of water: transparent, utterly devoid of gratuitous flavorings or frou-frou, and all the more bracing and essential for it.
  2. Tampa Bay Times
    Reviewed by: Steve Persall
    May 2, 2012
    100
    Monsieur Lazhar becomes a deeply affecting film not for pathos but for the way sadness is conveyed so subtly. It's a small triumph of restrained compassion, coaxing throat lumps rather than jerking tears.
  3. Total Film
    Reviewed by: Simon Kinnear
    May 7, 2012
    80
    The result is a shrewd look at classroom etiquette and an achingly sad study of grief-stricken solitude, built on ace performances by Fellag and the kids-especially 11-year-old scene stealer Sophie Nélisse.
  4. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Eric Hynes
    Apr 10, 2012
    60
    Fellag does for the film what his Lazhar does for the pupils: He's soothing and entrancingly enigmatic enough to keep us fixed to our seats.

See all 31 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. amboy
    10
    A remarkably engrossing film on a number of levels. Set in a primary school in Quebec (Francophone) its characters are remarkably well-drawn whether they be students, teachers, or administrators. The psychological, political, and moral questions that arise because of a particular event in the school are handled with force but also tact. The performances and cinematography are superb.… Expand
  2. BHBarry
    10
    â
  3. Strovonsky
    8
    A deeply touching movie about loss, guilt and uprooting, it manages to address complex issues with elegance and subtlety, while avoiding the trap of sentimentality. The young actors are uniformly good and believable, and Falardeau's skillful and delicate direction fits remarkably well the tone and subject of its film. A work of great intelligence from one of Quebec most important director.… Expand
  4. cabrita
    7
    Not enough of a comment on loss or anything else but the film is touching and the end wraps everything nice and tight. The film just doesn''t compare to great teacher dramas like to sir with love.… Expand

See all 8 User Reviews

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