How do you understand this film?

I watched it in a french lesson too. have never understood what's GREAT about it. it's good, but not that good.

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I kind of felt the same way you did half way through so I stopped watching and continued the following day. I found the second half to be much more enjoyable because there was a bit more going on

we watched this in my documentary class at my university as an example of direct cinema style documentaries. the use of the camera as the strict observer and inevitable catalyst, long cuts to show how events unfold in real time, and the lack of involvement of the cameraman to encourage the flow of real life without manipulation of cuts and directing of the subject are all important elements in this style of film-making.

for what it is, it is a beautiful example of how the bare human condition can tell a story better sometimes without intervention - with a fly-on-the-wall technique.

i thought that all the little moments added up to show a whole group of people you wouldn't get a glimpse at otherwise in their most honest setting.






"what a skeletal wreck of a man this is..."

I can see how it might be a boring film to watch for a French class, but we had to watch this documentary for one of my education classes and the methods that Mr. Lopez uses to teach these children are fascinating...

When I was a kid I had to read "To Kill a Mockingbird" for class. We watched the film too. I thought it was ok but not great. Then I re-read the book many years later. Now I think it was a masterpiece.

Sometimes you just have to have some life experience to appreciate something like this film. This isn't meant as a criticism of you, merely, I suggest you watch it again a few years from now and see if you don't feel differently.

We're watching this film in French right now too. We've endured many scenes of turtles and cows and snow covered trees. Kids learning to write 'Maman' a nasty kid saying he wasn't someone's friend, and now they've just made a pancake. Oh, and now they're toboganning. Please tell me it gets better.
So, what is the point of this film? To bore people to an early grave? To me, the whole film seems to be something that should take perhaps a scene or two and then have some actual plot.
THIS IS OUR CRY FOR HELP! COME SAVE US FROM THIS TORTURE!

(Oh God, now they're drawing circles.)

Just look at those kids! They are soo adorable.

CYMRU AM BYTH!

I think this is a doc that is more appreciated by people at or past kid rearing age.

I don't think I would've enjoyed this doc too much as a teenager, and maybe a little in my 20's, but now in my thirties I have enough life experience to really appreciate it. It's simple style is one of its best achievements. It felt a little bit like poetry- as if almost nothing was left that didn't work well.

There wasn't any b-roll for b-rolls' sake, nor unnecessary cut-always. Because of its efficiency and high craft, it can tell all kinds of stories, depending on who you are and what you've been exposed to in life. While I was watching it I felt as though it is a timeless film. It can be watched and it'll be able to communicate the exact same feelings and ideas with its story. The doc Salesman reminds me of that kind of timelessness.

I don't know why teachers would show this movie in school to kids, though. They should know better than anyone that it makes most sense to adults. (They probably think the kids in the movie set a good example, and hope it rubs off in their bored pupils.)