To Be and to Have

Name: To Be and to Have
Genre: Family, Documentary
Released: September 19, 2003
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 87

2003

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 26 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 31 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 31 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

New Yorker Films | Release Date: September 19, 2003

Summary: Inspired by the French phenomenon of 'single-class' schools, this film charts the life of a small one-class village school over the course of one academic year, and takes a warm and serene look at primary education in the French heartlands. (New Yorker Films)

Director: Nicolas Philibert

Genre(s): Family, Documentary

Runtime: 104 min

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Awards & Rankings

7	#7 Best Movie of 2003
79	#79 Most Discussed Movie of 2003

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Boston Globe - Wesley Morris

Nothing momentous happens here, but Philibert has a magical sense of how to find the simple poetry lurking in the universal routine of being a kid. A lot of the film's lyricism is extracurricular. Read full review

100

Baltimore Sun - Michael Sragow

Little miracles spring up throughout this picture. Read full review

Variety - Lisa Nesselson

Any negative stereotypes viewers might harbor about education in rural communities are sent packing by this magnificently lensed and cumulatively touching account from documaker Nicolas Philibert. Read full review

New York Daily News - Elizabeth Weitzman

Exhibiting the same sort of patience as his sensible hero, Philibert has created an extraordinarily humane portrait of a partnership between one adult and his very fortunate charges. Read full review

New York Magazine (Vulture) - Peter Rainer

The emotional honesty of this movie rescues it from sentimentality. To Be and to Have is about more than a dedicated teacher and his pupils; it’s about how difficult and exhilarating it is to grow into an adult. Read full review

The New Yorker - David Denby

A deeply satisfying aesthetic and pedagogic experience--though Americans may find themselves wondering how such terrific children can grow into such irritating adults.

TV Guide Magazine - Ken Fox

Simple but deeply touching documentary. Read full review

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Mixed:

User Reviews

AnnP.

Sep 22, 2005

I a long-time teacher, and I fell in love with the entire class - students and teacher.

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joomjim4

Jun 18, 2012

[Simple but deeply touching, Magical sense of warmth, Graceful, Emotional absorbing]
The sense of simpliness, incnocence and truthfulness astonishingly constructs one of the most unique and incredibly heart-warming films ever created. A Remarkable Accomplishment in the World of Film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AnnP.

Sep 22, 2005

I a long-time teacher, and I fell in love with the entire class - students and teacher.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

FrancineH.

Jan 24, 2007

Warm and wonderful! It is the kind of movie that inspires and entertains. Georges Lopez is a gentle, kind, wise man with a heart for his students' successes. Lovely man and lovely film.

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SteveF.

Mar 11, 2008

A feast for the eyes, mind, and heart. It is hard to imagine a better teacher, or a film better at catching the mystery of teaching.

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Max_Kadillac

Oct 26, 2014

This movie is beautiful in so many ways - the main character's unaffected and honest way of communicating with the kids, the charming setting, the melancholic feel of knowing that this is the final year of so so many for the teacher/ protagonist. If you need something to watch that will makeThis movie is beautiful in so many ways - the main character's unaffected and honest way of communicating with the kids, the charming setting, the melancholic feel of knowing that this is the final year of so so many for the teacher/ protagonist. If you need something to watch that will make you feel warm and fuzzy (and perhaps shed a tear) look no further - a beautifully executed film about a wonderful man that will fill you with hope, no matter how cynical you may feel.… Expand

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EpicLadySponge

May 4, 2016

To Be and to Have proves that even the child used in the film can bring perfect performances and that brings the ultimate plan of "To Be and to Have" in exactly 104 minutes.

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