Monsieur Lazhar

Throughout a harsh Montréal winter, an elementary-school class is left reeling after its instructor commits suicide. Bachir Lazhar, a charismatic Algerian immigrant, steps in because the substitute instructor for the classroom of traumatized youngsters. All of the whereas, he should maintain his private life tucked away: the truth that he’s looking for political refuge in Québec – and that he, like the youngsters, has suffered an appalling loss.