Être et avoir (2002)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Nicolas Philibert

Release Date:

28 August 2002 (France)

Genre:

Documentary | Family

Plot:

A documentary portrait of a one-room school in rural France, where the students (ranging in age from 4 to 11) are educated by a single dedicated teacher.

Plot Keywords:

School | France | Parents | Teacher | Snow

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 8 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Georges Lopez	...	The teacher
Alizé	...	Herself (student)
Axel	...	Himself (student)
Guillaume	...	Himself (student)
Jessie	...	Herself
Johan	...	Himself (student) (as JoJo)
Johann	...	Himself (student)
Jonathan	...	Himself
Julien	...	Himself (student)
Laura	...	Herself
Létitia	...	Herself
Marie-Elizabeth	...	Herself
Nathalie	...	Herself
Olivier	...	Himself (student)
Franck	...	Himself
Kevin	...	Himself
Jérome	...	Himself
Magali	...	Herself
Léa	...	Herself
Océane	...	Herself
Thomas	...	Himself
Valentin	...	Himself
Valentin	...	Himself
Famille Chanimbaud	...	Themselves
Famille Dujardin	...	Themselves
Famille Garrido	...	Themselves
Famille Jeune	...	Themselves
Famille Lacombe	...	Themselves
Famille Olléon	...	Themselves
Famille Ponte	...	Themselves
Famille Rochès	...	Themselves
Famille Thouvenin	...	Themselves
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeannot	...	Himself (chaufeur)

Directed by
Nicolas Philibert

Produced by
Serge Lalou	....	associate producer
Gilles Sandoz	....	producer

Original Music by
Philippe Hersant

Cinematography by
Laurent Didier
Katell Djian
Hugues Gemignani
Nicolas Philibert

Film Editing by
Nicolas Philibert

Production Management
Isabelle Pailley Sandoz	....	production manager

Sound Department
Julien Cloquet	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Christian Guy	....	still photographer
Nicolas Philibert	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Thaddée Bertrand	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Tatiana Bouchain	....	assistant to producer

Production Companies

• Canal+
• Centre National de Documentation Pédagogique
• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)
• Gimages 4
• Les Films d'Ici
• Maïa Films
• arte France Cinéma

Distributors

• BIM Distribuzione (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Cinema Mondo (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Contact Film Cinematheek (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Karma Films (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Les Films du Losange (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Longride (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Mercure Distribution (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Miracle Voice (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• New Yorker Films (2003) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Orlando Films (2003) (Israel) (theatrical)
• Tokyo Theaters Company (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Zeta Films (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Moskwood Media (2003) (Netherland) (VHS)
• New Yorker Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• New Yorker Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Primer Plano Film Group (Argentina) (DVD)
• Primer Plano Film Group (Argentina) (VHS)

Also Known As:

To Be and to Have (International: English title)

Runtime:

104 min | France:105 min (Cannes Film Festival)

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Taiwan:GP | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Italy:T | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Brazil:Livre | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Norway:A | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Saint-Etienne-sur-Usson, Puy-de-Dôme, France

Company:

Canal+

Trivia:

After Etre et Avoir received so many awards and was met with such fanfare, the teacher, Georges Lopez, sued the producer for compensation. Contractually he and the students were paid a set amount of money (low-budget documentary prices), however Lopez did promotional tours and thought he deserved a larger share after the film's success. The French judge did not rule in his favour.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: (#17.2)" (2004)

Wash your hands, Jojo

Greetings again from the darkness. Wonderful, award-winning documentary about George Lopez and his one room school house in rural France. So many thoughts rush through the viewer's head as we watch this incredibly patient man battle through the daily challenges of teaching kids ages 4 to 12. Young Jojo will win your heart as the eager to play boy who would undoubtedly be subjected to doses of Ridlin in the U.S. Jojo's charm and openness are in stark contrast to the older children who seem to keep their emotions pent up to play along with the expectations of maturity. Personalities are obvious by age 4 or 5 and we have no trouble looking forward to see the type of teens and adults they will become. This environment offers so many advantages to the "pack 30 in a classroom and demand robotic behavior" that has become the norm in our education system. Teachers have become disciplinarians by force rather than life educators like Mr. Lopez. Yes, I laughed many times during this one, but only as my heart was breaking while dreaming of what could be for kids. The scenes with the families are torturous to watch and should provide insight into how many parents undermine even the best teachers. Should be required viewing for all parents and teachers. We should all ask ourselves, "what is the point of taking the eagerness and desire learn away from kids?"