as the son of a high school teacher, as well as spending time as a substitute high school teacher myself, I can tell you first hand that teaching nowadays is tougher than ever. Unfortunately, that’s not often portrayed realistically on film. In 2009, there are still WAY too many movies that paint high school as this fantasy place, where everything is perfect. And if that isn’t the case, there’s these pretentious, angst-ridden movies directed by someone in their mid-20’s who had a shitty high school experience and has a skewed outlook on the world. Movies like “Chalk” and “Welcome the Dollhouse” are some of the few movies that show a realistic look at jr high and high school. Funny, Awkward and sometimes not so great. “The Class”, which won best picture at last years Cannes film festival, is shot in a cassavetes/cinema verite’ style, with a mixed cast of professional and non-professional actors. The unique aspect about “The Class” is that the movie only takes place in the school, focusing on one class, its young teacher, and the daily obstacles they face. It doesn’t have a sub-plot about the teachers personal problems outside of school, no token drug selling black student, or any other cliché’ storyline that usually come with a typical high school movie. At some points, the movie is so realistic that it feels like a documentary. Fans of John Cassavetes and Mike Leigh will love this movie.