Overview
A poignant exploration of healing and resilience in the face of tragedy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- intimate
- sincere
- reflective evening
- discussion group
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a tender, thoughtful, emotionally authentic, and restrained exploration of hidden grief and the teacher-student dynamic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bachir guides elementary students through the aftermath of their teacher's death while the class gradually finds ways to express grief.
Bachir's Algerian identity, painful former life, and deportation risk remain hidden behind his position as a substitute teacher.
The film places an Algerian immigrant at the center of a Montreal school and presents Quebec as connected to wider global concerns.
The film emphasizes intimate classroom interactions, realistic child performances, and emotional authenticity without overbearing melodrama.
Films like Monsieur Lazhar, and why
The Class
humanistic school drama exploring grief, emotional healing, and the teacher-student relationship with restrained sentiment
The Children Are Watching Us
intimate, socially conscious drama about education, vulnerable children, and a teacher creating trust through empathy
Inch'Allah
quietly moving immigrant-centered drama balancing hidden grief, cultural displacement, and compassionate classroom relationships
The Kindergarten Teacher
sensitive ensemble drama about children processing trauma under the guidance of an emotionally burdened adult
Movie Details
- Director
- Philippe Falardeau
- Release Date
- 2011-09-10
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (372)
Cast
- Mohamed Fellag
- Émilien Néron
- Danielle Proulx
- Sophie Nélisse
- Marie-Ève Beauregard
- Denise Lamontagne
- Brigitte Poupart
- Louis Champagne
- Daniel Gadouas
- Vincent Millard
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Brew, Fandor Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Monsieur Lazhar about?
- An Algerian immigrant becomes a substitute teacher in Montreal, helping grieving children find language for loss while concealing his own precarious sorrow.
- What is Monsieur Lazhar like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Monsieur Lazhar as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Monsieur Lazhar violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Monsieur Lazhar.
- What did critics think of Monsieur Lazhar?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a tender, thoughtful, emotionally authentic, and restrained exploration of hidden grief and the teacher-student dynamic.
- Which films are like Monsieur Lazhar?
- Films with a similar feel include The Class, The Children Are Watching Us, Inch'Allah, and The Kindergarten Teacher.
- How long is Monsieur Lazhar?
- Monsieur Lazhar runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Monsieur Lazhar?
- In United States, Monsieur Lazhar streams on Philo, Brew, Fandor Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
