MovieChat Forums > Monsieur Lazhar (2012) Discussion > Why no credit to the playwright? Also, d...

Why no credit to the playwright? Also, differences from the play?


I'm surprised there's no mention in the credits here on imdb of the woman who wrote the play on which this movie was based, Evelyne de la Chevelière. There is even a feature on the DVD dealing with the development of the movie from the play (haven't gotten to watch very much of that feature yet--and it will take me longer to understand it, using my not-so-fabulous French language skills, but it includes scenes from a production of the play, and the playwright is talking to the film's director throughout it). Does anyone know if the actual screen credits give mention of some kind to the playwright? Even if she had no direct involvement in writing the film script, I'd have thought she still would get mention, as is pretty usual these days, when a movie is based on a specific, other work, whether it's a novel, non-fiction book, play, musical, magazine article, blog, or whatever.

I only became interested in seeing this movie after reading glowing reports of an English language production performed this summer, at the Barrington Stage Company, in the Berkshires. I think the play has only one actor, and is apparently very effective. I figured, better to see the movie than nothing, since I couldn't see the play. Does anyone have info about this, as to why imdb makes no mention of the playwright?

Also, if anyone here has seen a production, or read the script of the play, I'd be interested to know what differences and similarities you noted, re. the movie. Thanks.

Added later: I found the playwright is listed on the DVD case credits, I think as "based on a play by." Seems she should be listed on imdb as well.





Multiplex: 100+ shows a day, NONE worth watching. John Sayles' latest: NO distribution. SAD.

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I agree and have submitted a "Trivia" entry that indicates Evelyne de la Chenelière's role in creating the source material. BTW, she also appears in the film as Alice's mother, the pilot.

M. Chenelière's play has a slightly different title ... Bashir Lazhar. I was privileged to see a well-received production of the English translation of the play a couple years ago at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival. The same production also went to Edinburgh with the actor gaining a "best actor" nomination there. The play is indeed a one-hander, although in the production I saw there was a second actor/dancer who did not speak and seemed to be there to reflect the emotions of the main character or other characters of which he would speak. I haven't seen the script, so I don't know if that was unique to the production I saw. The play is quite nuanced with layers of meaning that take a while to sort out ... I was thinking about it for days afterward. The movie is very true to the story and emotion of the play. Probably the biggest differences are that the film presents the story in a bit more straightforward manner and we are permitted more time with other characters. All in all a very good adaptation of a very good play. Much better written synopses of the Edmonton-based production are available:
http://www.gigcity.ca/2011/10/13/review-bashir-lazhar-a-lot-more-than- another-to-sir-with-love/
http://www.fringeguru.com/reviews/edinburgh-2011/bashir-lazhar.html
http://www.thepublicreviews.com/ed-fringe-2011-bashir-lazhar-assembly- george-square/
and, of course, not everything is to everyone's taste:
http://labonneviveuse.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/edmonton-fringe-2009-ba shir-lazhar/

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Thank you for taking time to reply, with so much info. It's nice to get the perspective of someone who has seen both properties. I had read about Mme. Chenelière playing Alice's mom, which pleased me. It's funny that the spelling of Bashir was changed to Bachir for the movie. I'll take a look at the reviews you link to. Aloha!





Multiplex: 100+ shows a day, NONE worth watching. John Sayles' latest: NO distribution. SAD.

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It's there on the movie's IMDB home page, plain as day ... story by Evelyne de la Chevelière. The screenplay was developed from Bashir Lazhar, a one-character play by Évelyne de la Chenelière and is clearly quite different in format and content to the play. That is why she doesn't get a screen - writing credit.🐭

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