DVD OF THE WEEK

THE CLASS *****
Dir: Laurent Canet Starring: Francois Begaudeau, Agame Malembo-Emene, Boubacar Toure

Based on a book and screenplay by lead actor Francois Begaudeau, himself a teacher, this modest and wholly extraordinary film won the Palme D'Or at Cannes last year. It follows, in largely hand-held 'documentary” style, a year in the life of a teacher coping with working at a mixed-nationality inner city French school.
And it is, I think, the most honest, fully-rounded and intelligent film about the conflicts of modern education that I have ever seen.
He is hard-working and dedicated, and clearly a skilful teacher. He isn't by any means perfect. The class – made up of non-professionals, students from the school where it is set – are a mix, some bright, some rebellious, some disconnected, all of them very real. There are no heroes or villains.
And as the animated class discussions develop, or as we watch the staff at meetings, it becomes clear that there are no easy answers to the many problems on display, and we become increasingly drawn towards this disparate set of characters. Despite having only the loosest of plot lines the film is never dry or uninvolving and the differing opinions presented never seem forced or didactic.
If you have even the slightest interest in schools or the whole idea of education, then this film will be a real eye-opener. There may be no solid conclusions but it boldly presents many sides of a situation that is so often dealt with through bland simplicities. Highly recommended, and there is an English-dubbed soundtrack for those afraid of subtitles.

With Mad Men and Revolutionary Road, the repressed suburban lives of the fifties are becoming popular fodder and in Married Life (****) – although set in 1949 - they are again put under the spotlight. Managing to deftly skirt drama and black comedy this sees Chris Cooper dissatisfied with his humdrum life and marriage to Patricia Clarkson. Complications come in the form of the young and lovely Rachel McAdams and duplicitous lothario Pierce Brosnan (enjoying himself immensely) and they create twists and turns aplenty. Low-key and superbly acted, this is a film of quiet but deliciously wicked fireworks.

For the second time in as many weeks Clive Owen is on the cover of a big glossy thriller. This time it's The International (***), a film that, with its story of treacherous bankers, arms deals and third world conflict, should be tailor made for these times. But, for many reasons, it fails to fire on all cylinders. There is a detached remove about the film that stops it ever being involving or truly thrilling, while Naomi Watts character seems so underwritten as to be irrelevant. The story is clever and complex but, despite attractive location photography, fails to engage emotionally.

The nascent California wine industry and the surprise wine tasting in 1976 Paris when a Napa winery beat out French opposition (to everyone's surprise – particularly the French) is the subject of Bottle Shock (**), a cute little movie that is amiable and fun if never rising to any great heights. Bill Pullman and Alan Rickman are always watchable (the latter getting to play at his most entertainingly snobbish), Chris Pine, Rachael Taylor and Freddy Rodriguez charm in support roles and the whole thing is a leisurely and untaxingly enjoyable trifle.

I am entirely the wrong person to be reviewing Pink Panther 2 (**) because I come from the old school that cannot get Peter Sellers' iconic character out of its mind. For what it's worth, I thought this was a slight improvement over the first Steve Martin vehicle. And at least the support cast is stuffed with talent (John Cleese, Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, Emily Mortimer, Andy Garcia, Lily Tomlin, Jeremy Irons). Other than that it's a stream of predictable slapstick culminating in a predictable sappy ending. What were you expecting? As Clouseau says: 'Let me bring you up to speed… we know nothing. You are now up to speed.”