You’d think that films with this specific, and all-to-worn premise would be history in 2014, given that they’ve long become fodder for TV and online sketch comedy parodies; but no! They’re still in fashion, I guess – in some parts of the world anyway.
Titled Once in a Lifetime (Les Héritiers), the French drama centers on a teacher, who happens to be a white woman, who is determined to turn around the possibilities for the tough, underprivileged students in her inner-city classroom.
How refreshing!
Here’s an official synopsis:
Anne Gueguen is more than just a high school history teacher: she actually cares about the troubled, inner-city students she’s supposed to educate. And this year, as always, Anne’s got a tough class. Frustrated by their materialism and lack of ambition, Anne challenges them, despite their unlikelihood of winning, to take part in a national High school Competition. Determined to push her students as far as they’ll go, Anne puts her own life on hold and uses all her creativity and willpower to grab their attention and get them motivated. As the deadline creeps closer, the kids start to open up to each other and believe in themselves. And while it may not resolve the challenges of their daily lives now, the collective project’s outcome could be the one thing that changes the rest of their lives and helps them find their way.
Sound at all familiar to you?
Directed by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, the film, which is said to be based on a novel by David Foenkinos, stars Ariane Ascaride, Geneviève Mnich, Ahmed Dramé, and Stéphane Bak.
The project is being shopped at the ongoing Cannes Film Market (Marche du Film), where it’s said to be selling quite well internationally – although primarily in Europe – winning over distributors. No USA pick-up yet though.
No trailer yet either, but I’ll leave you with this old skit from Mad TV which apparently is still relevant today:
