neumu [ cinematronic ]




	To Be And To Have
	Nicolas Philibert Georges Lopez 2003		Forget Mr. Holland, Mr. Chips and Mr. Kotter. There's a new greatest-teacher-ever, and he's the subject of the stirring French documentary "To Be and To Have." In a one-room school in rural France, the ever-patient Georges Lopez instructs his students, who range in age from 3 to 11. This institution, located in the town of Auvergne, is one of a shrinking number of similar establishments that offer education to all of the children in an area until they're old enough to move on to middle school. On the verge of retirement, Mr. Lopez is a constant inspiration as he gently guides the laggers forward, encourages the middling kids and challenges the more exceptional among his charges. There's a genuine calm about "To Be and To Have," in the spirit of Lopez's evenhanded demeanor. Even kids who are uneasy when they first enter his classroom are put at ease, taught the basics, offered support and given lessons in friendship and teamwork. And none of his methods seem corny or didactic. With the exception of Lopez's brief reflection on his career and his musings on the future, director Nicolas Philibert avoids the talking-head motif common to many documentaries. Instead, Philibert shows Lopez interacting with the class and follows the students to their homes and families. The result is a heartening view of one man's impact on his community.