During a harsh Montréal winter, an elementary-school class is left reeling after its teacher commits suicide. Bachir Lazhar, a charismatic Algerian immigrant, steps in as the substitute teacher for the classroom of traumatized children. All the while, he must keep his personal life tucked away: the fact that he is seeking political refuge in Québec – and that he, like the children, has suffered an appalling loss.
- Genre: Drama, Comedy
- Studio: micro_scope, CBC, Téléfilm Canada
- Keyword: algerian, montreal, canada, elementary school, backpack, healing process, hugging, precocious child, death of teacher, taking a picture, african violet, class photograph, child psychologist, blackboard
- Cast: Mohamed Fellag, Émilien Néron, Danielle Proulx, Sophie Nélisse, Marie-Ève Beauregard, Denise Lamontagne
