MovieChat Forums > Être et avoir (2002) Discussion > i can not stand this movie

i can not stand this movie

posted 19 years ago by Squeaky-Voiced-Teen
41 replies | jump to latest

don't get me wrong after only recently seeing both Bowling for columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 my interest for documentaries has grown.
I never thought i would be able to like documentaries but this one nearly had me kill myself. I'm very patient when it comes to movies i will watch anything out there but this i regret watching.
maybe cause i watched it in school and kkids were talking all around that kind of took the jazz away but the lack of dialogue and well.....story kind of made me think i should have called in sick. Anyone else hate this movie?

If you cant amaze people with your intelligence, confuse them with your bull$hit.

[–] blue__yoshi 19 years ago

I can't say I hated it but it didn't impress me as much as it seemed to other people. I think a lot of people had just forgotten what it's like to be at school. I've sat in on pre-school classes as an adult and really this documentry showed me no more than I had seen on those days.
Also I felt the teacher 'mis-diagnosed' the girl at the end. He seemed to think she was upset because he had told her new teachers of her shyness. But she seemed to be crying more ABOUT her shyness. I felt it was more of an internal problem, that she had self-esteem issues, which made her cry when they were exposed. She knew she was shy, she just didn't seem to have the confidence in herself to overcome it.

If you're looking for good Documentries watch 'Fog of War'.

[–] cestsibon 19 years ago

i wasn't crazy about it either. i'm surprised it got such a good rating. :-\ whjen it was jsut awful.

[–] Squeaky-Voiced-Teen 19 years ago

thank you bluerice

hmm fog of war?

If you cant amaze people with your intelligence, confuse them with your bull$hit.

[–] navajito 19 years ago

You don´t have to explain every secuence in the film. I think Phillibert only wants to show the proccess of learning and how every kid does it personally. I believe it´s no worth saying you´ve seen children many times in school. You don´t know how to watch this kind of films and what they express. This sentence explains what I want to say better than my poor english: "When the finger points out the moon, the fool look at the finger".

[–] sunsetshoegazer 19 years ago

I'm still in School and I enjoyed it.

Ted: I have to stop you there Dougal.
Dougal: Why?
Ted: No reason, I just have to stop you.

[–] upsidedown_i 19 years ago

why would you look up a movie you hate on a movie database...

[–] stuntboybrian 19 years ago

to antagonise i guess

[–] bmpeers 19 years ago

No doubt the negative criticism left on this board came from americans!
I thought it was a beautiful insight into both french rural culture, and the development of little people through school.

The film moves at a slow pace, each little scene a piece of art in itself. And in a way the slow pace of the film reflects rural life in France in general.

To making a sweeping generalization, americans have little ability to concentrate on one subject for such a period of time. They lack the patience. Hence the above comments.

This is truer of the south and west coast especially, new england tends to be better. Do the people who commented before have passports i wonder!!

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] echovalley 19 years ago

I just loved watching the way the teacher taught those pupils with such love and tenderness. i now that sounds really corny but it was fascinating too, the way he made them think by asking them questions about everything. and i dunno. it was just a really gorgeous film that showed the endearing and almost beautiful subtleties within the usually mundane realities of everyday life.

[–] haasxaar 19 years ago

this was a beautiful and moving film. The people who watch this are either nitpickers or people with the attention span of a goldfish.

Its about a teacher and his pupils - nothing more, so how could it have failed????

[–] grahamsmith_ 17 years ago

you are quite obviously a repulsive individual. if you cannot see why this film is such an absolute joy, i suggest you switch the oven on at gas mark 5 and do yourself a favour.

[–] europe_travel 17 years ago

"you are quite obviously a repulsive individual. if you cannot see why this film is such an absolute joy, i suggest you switch the oven on at gas mark 5 and do yourself a favour."

LOL

[–] hans-pieters 19 years ago

I live since 10 years in rural France. It is just what it is, even the beautiful skys. I showed the film to peapople in my village (total of 125 people at all!). They did not like the film, because it was about their everyday life and what is interesting about that !
For us is was a kind of remembering tour: we had forgotten that children don't know to write and read when they are born and what a hell of a job it is to bring up the first years of their life. I always 'had' university students and I understand now that my job was so much easier that the teacher job in the film. I think you should be somewhat older to appreciate this film. Something like '50+ Only' :-)

[–] ridiculous_meegy 19 years ago

Janus - maybe you should have chosen a different film then, one that is concerned with portraying rural French culture?

[–] autrefois 19 years ago

I am an American teacher who spent three years in France. As much as I love teaching and love France, I disliked this film. I am glad to see I am not alone.

Why do I dislike it? I can find almost nothing interesting about it. I guess if you like reality TV, then you might like this. If you think that reality TV is senseless exploitation, I think you probably won't like this film. I don't like reality TV, so maybe that's why I don't understand this "documentary." It was not what I expected, so it is perhaps my fault.

I feel that a documentary should help you to understand or learn about something. We don't really learn about rural life or about teaching in rural France (or even teaching 'tout court'). We only see some disjointed epsiodes in the lives of the teacher and the students (Wow, Jojo didn't finish his picture, so he can't go out to recess! Wow, a kid gets slapped at home for getting a math problem wrong! Wow, children fight!) sprinkled with meaningless filler that is apparently trying to be art (Wow, there are turtles walking on the floor! Wow, it's snowing! Wow, the gloves are drying! Wow, it's spring!). Is this art?

If we are supposed to learn something from this film, I would seriously like to know what. In my opinion, this is closer to téléréalité (or "cinéréalité" I suppose one could call it) than a documentary. I just feel sorry for the kids, having cameras filming them when they're talking about deeply personal things.

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion about any film. I am not saying my views are correct, they are just my opinions. If other people find this movie interesting or have learned something from it, I am glad for them.

One more thing: if you are about to write a sentence that begins with "To make a sweeping generalization," there's a very good chance that it would better not to finish that sentence...

[–] max_imdb 19 years ago

I disagree with your sentiment that documentary needs to help you understand or learn about something you're unfamiliar with. Particularly because I felt this film did bring up things that I've not experience.

Most obviously is the whole approach to teaching that is protrayed, I've never been to a school with so few kids, and it's an entirely different environment to that which I was educated in. Much more personal, and far more relaxed than anything I've encountered.

However, the main reason I disagree is simply because the personal insight and intimate moments contained within this film are far more interesting that learning facts about the French countryside. The teacher's relationship and affection for his students, and their obvious affection for him is wonderful. The film is well worth watching for that alone.

[–] ridiculous_meegy 19 years ago

I think you may have misunderstood the simplicity and diliberate pace of the film, autrefois.

The film never says that Jojo not finishing his work is something to be excited about. If it did, I'd be guessing there'd be more rejoicing and such. It is there to portray the lives and journeys of these people.

If you are under the impression that any documentary is fact, you have been grossly misinformed. Seriously, you give me the name of a documentary that is pure fact, with no subjectivity whatsoever. I challenge you. Documentaries are simply unscripted drama. Which is what reality television is also, but it's usually completely unoriginal and exploitative of the participants.

In fact, I don't like the whole idea of reality tv. And this is one of the best films that I have ever been privileged enough to discover.

Why do you have to learn something from this film? Because it's a documentary? I hate how people think that documentary should do something so much more profound than any other film. It's a genre, like any other. Did you learn anything from Team America? What about some soppy romance film? No? So why the hell should you have to learn anything from this?

If anything, it should have taught you to be more open-minded. I think it failed.

[–] screamflickchick-1 19 years ago

Of course if someone doesn't like this film they must be American!

Where are you from, bmpeers? My goodness, give the anti-American comments a rest. It has become rather tedious.

I am an American and I liked this film (I even cried at the end!)

[–] Asterixxxx 19 years ago

you see two documentary's by the same Director and all of a sudden you are an a position to openly critisize what is a beautiful and very highly regarded documentary?

I tell you they should have an age check at IMDb.

"Damn, We're in a tight spot" - Ulysees Everret

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] kaydeejay 18 years ago

As you have said, your comment is a "sweeping generlization". However, it is not a fair one. I am an American (painful to admit at times) and find your comment completely rude and irresponsible. Generalizations by their very nature are tacky and inconsiderate. Don't make assumptions about an entire group of people based on the idiocies of just a few of them. Not all Americans like reality TV and Bush. Get over yourself. The movie has some delightful moments but it can be a bit boring at times. And it doesn't have to appeal to everyone. Does any movie do that?

[–] ddancerr002 15 years ago

The only thing I can agree with from your comment is "sweeping generalization."

[–] alexandrasantoro 15 years ago

I'm sorry, I can't help but be the least bit offended that you would insult the Americans in such a way. There are plenty of different types of people who are used to different things who would not enjoy this film.

That said, I am an American and I happen to be from the West Coast, specifically Southern California, and I quite enjoyed this film. It gave a magnificent picture of rural France and the development of these beautiful children. It had a very subtle story and was a lovely, and unobtrusive documentary. We were able to pull conclusions on our own, take what we wished from it, and connect to each student on our own. I thought that was marvelous.

The american who sat through this movie and loved it.

[–] shorbe 13 years ago

What an incredibly racist comment. I'm not American, by the way. I have my complaints about aspects of American culture, and I'm sure many Americans have their own complaints about aspects of their own culture, but I've travelled, lived and worked in many different countries and I've met plenty of such people everywhere. Some places seem to have a higher proportion, but they still don't account for everyone, and perhaps not even the majority, even in a place like America.

Furthermore, if you want to talk about people having a poor attention span, we could talk about your failure to provide proper nouns with capital letters. Weren't you paying attention in that lesson, or is this the internet and correct English isn't necessary?

[–] tyboulder 7 years ago

I enjoy your sweeping generalization about how it must be Americans-- with their sweeping generalizations-- who are responsible for the negative comments left about his movie.

[–] Siana17 16 years ago

Why do people who hate it look it up? For somehting to do while watching it, warn other people off it, and find out what happens so we know when our teacher tests us.

I knew it was going to be a weird one from the moment I saw the tortoises crawling across the floor...

[–] praxis22 19 years ago

Here's a clue, if a film gets a good rating then people have voted for it, generally a sign they like it. My wife only rents movies with high scores, and then complains they were no good. So I guess the two of you have that much in common :)

I thought it was great, it's a film made by a Frenchman, for a French audience, and for all of that it still translates ;) If you were wondering why it's not like "other" documentaries you may have seen you may want to check the directors interview on the DVD, where he explains exactly why it is the way it is.

I guess the only thing this proves to me however is that there a lot of people like my wife who have no trust in thier own judgement, otherwise they wouldn't watch films highly rated by others, and then complain as it didn't look like every other film they liked.

There's a lesson in there somewhere, but I'm guessing you never had a Mr Lopez to help you find it...

[–] yellow_amoeba 19 years ago

Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 aren't so much documentaries as they are an "educational" excuse for propaganda.

[–] Asterixxxx 19 years ago

ain't that the truth, well said....

"Damn, We're in a tight spot" - Ulysees Everett McGill

[–] BigThingWithHolesInIt 19 years ago

One major difference between documentaries like EEA and Michael Moore's work is that the latter starts out exactly knowing what he wishes to portray, and goes to find matching footage. Interesting enough, but somewhat cheap. EEA is (although the slow pace of the movie may suggest otherwise) a way more daring and adventurous documentary because Philibert could never have guessed what the outcome would be when he started shooting.

[–] sicknotesam 19 years ago

sigh... i guess some people need to be spoon fed

[–] rideo 19 years ago

I thought it was a lovely and beautiful little film. I even had a tear in my eye when the teacher came to say goodbye to his pupils at the end of the year. I also rather wished he had been my teacher when I was five, lol :)

"Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?!" The Holy Grail.

[–] ridiculous_meegy 19 years ago

Ha ha! The only thing in your whole message that I found remotely interesting is the fact that you think that Michael Moore is a good documentary maker. In fact, he's just the best at promoting it.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] NoelLiebtSie 18 years ago

I doubt you've even seen 'Fahrenheit' or 'Bowling' - if you had then you could specify what details exactly you had a problem with (the truth hurts I guess?) I suppose it's just tough to see your heroes embarrasing themselves.

[–] chloed1989 18 years ago

I live in America but I don't really consider myself "American". Mostly English and French. But that is a generalization. That's like saying all English drink tea and say ta-ta ol chap. Or that french sit in outdoor eating croissants and say Oo la la. Of course that isn't true! It isn't good and you should think before you speak.

The reason these jerks make fun of a movie THEY looked up is because not only do they have the attention span of a goldfish but they have a brain the size of a tick. Don't they screen these people??!! (Just kidding)

Nobody puts Baby in a corner.

[–] themadstork 18 years ago

I know I'm going to sound like a horrible movie snob, but well what I'm about to say is true. To say you're into documentaries because you like Moore's movies is like a guy with a velvet Elvis and some dogs playing poker saying he's into high art. You want to watch real documentaries, and not badly made agitprop, you need patience. And don't accuse me of being some kind of conservative. I'm liberal, but I'm not about to eat dung and like it simply because it''s liberal dung.

[–] nekoxchaos 18 years ago

I agree witht that statement, this movie doesnt deal with the same subject matter as any of moores film... the pacing is slow, it deals with children in a country side getting thier education from a really dedicated man. Theres no controversy or theories etc etc.. its what it is.

[–] jaime_grijalbagomez 16 years ago

Well, I love Moore's documentaries AND I loved this movie, I don't really know why some people just can't get tea and coffee at the same time.

[–] 16 years ago

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