Review of To Be and To Have

To Be and To Have

Rating = B-

This is a documentary of a rural one room school in France for kids from the time they begin school until they go to middle school. Mr. Lopez is the teacher. He has been teaching for thirty-five years, has been at this school for twenty years, and will retire after the next school year. He also clearly cares about his students and gives them personal attention they undoubtedly will no longer get once they leave his small school.

I think the documentary is well done. The film maker lets the film of his subjects and their lives speak for itself — since he filmed for a school year, he had a lot of film to choose from. Nonetheless, I was not engaged by the film enough to overcome my tiredness going into the film and the distraction of an uncomfortable theater seat.

[2003-11-20]