School of Babel

“School of Babel” ("La cour de Babel") is a documentary following one academic year of a “reception class” at a secondary school in Paris's 10th arrondissement. The class is for immigrant children in France to prepare for the regular classes by studying French and other subjects.In “School of Babel” twenty-four students appear, and their ages range from eleven to fifteen. They come from countries such as Brazil, Chile, China, Egypt, England, Guinea, Mauritania, North Ireland, Rumania, Serbia, Ukraine, Venezuela and many others. Some of them have come to France as political refugee, while others for more personal reasons.Pros of the film are, not surprisingly, the students. The camera almost always stays within the classroom, focusing the young students and their interactions with the teacher. Watching all these children is not just great fun (and occasional sadness); it is also touching and inspirational. Also, the instructor Brigitte Cervoni’s unflagging enthusiasm for the students is simply admirable.However, the film, shot about one year before Charlie Hebdo shooting, glosses over the contemporary socio-political dimensions surrounding immigration in France. Director Julie Bertuccelli (who has made two feature films “Since Otar Left” and “The Tree”) may give us an intimate look at each student, but not the community they are living in. Thus, the tone of this documentary film differs considerably from that of Laurent Cantet’s “The Class” (“Entre les murs”), a fictional account of a young teacher in charge of a class with Parisian multi-racial students.Frankly, I do not know to what extent these two films reflect the reality. Bertuccelli tends to present the positive side of the issue – and she is entitled to doing as she pleases – but perhaps we need a “sequel” to “Babel” following the lives of these students after, say, ten years from now.

I love this documentary and was thrilled to find it for purchase. The subtitles are delayed by 5-10 seconds and it is extremely distracting. I've seen it many times as a teacher; however, my students struggled to keep up with the content.

Amazing teacher, interesting school arrangements, compulsive viewing for anyone involved in education.

Très bon film. Etant formatrice de langues étrangères je peux vous dire que ce film retrace parfaitement les difficultés que rencontrent les jeunes migrants en France d'un point de vue langagier. On voit aussi à quel point ils sont reconnaissants pour tout ce que leur apporte l'école. Si vous voulez comprendre cet univers, acheté-le. avoir et à revoir..

We think of the modern, prosperous La Villette and of Buttes-Chaumont, but nearby lies this exciting college where newcomers enjoy an intensive introduction to French, before joining their correct class group. This is a heart-warming tale.

j'adore ce type de film ou le réalisateur nous fait découvrir la vie difficile et la joie des enseignants et des collégiens.

Documentaire émouvant, pertinent et passionnant qui permet de remettre en cause les idées reçues. Je le recommande fortement !Cordialement