Serial Teachers
2013 · Directed by Pierre-François Martin-Laval
Original language: French
- comedy
The story
With only 12 percent of its pupils obtaining their baccalaureate, Jules Ferry High School is the worst school in France. The Inspector of Schools has already exhausted all the conventional means to raise standards at the school and he has no choice but to take the advice of his deputy. It is a case of having to fight fire with fire: the worst pupils must be taught by the worst teachers...
What it’s like
Bright, flat daylight over drab provincial school corridors, with fluorescent-lit classrooms, scuffed linoleum and cramped staffroom interiors that look lived-in rather than glamorous. The camera stays mostly straightforward and unfussy, leaning on broad physical staging and reaction shots, and the score is light and bouncy, the kind of cheerful background that never needs your full attention. Its vibe is brisk, mischievous and warm-hearted, the sort of feel-good comedy you can enjoy on a lazy weekend afternoon or as an easy company watch with friends. Pacing is quick and episodic, with gags landing in rapid succession, and the register stays amused rather than cutting: the central dynamic is a set of unlikely, unorthodox teachers slowly winning over a rowdy class of teenagers who have been written off. The comedy is broad and nonviolent, with slapstick mishaps and classroom chaos rather than any real menace, and the adult characters' bickering stays affectionate. Gentle to moderate in intensity, with mild crude humour and no gore, sexual content or real cruelty. Suited to viewers who want a light, funny, uplifting comedy about teachers and misfit students, and to anyone who likes French ensemble comedy with a generous heart.
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