Originally released as a French motion picture in 2002.

Special features: Entretien avec Nicolas Philibert [Interview with] (21 min.); Theatrical trailer [English] (3 min.); French trailer (2 min.); Poésies [Poetry recitation] (3 min.).

Image [photography], Katell Djian, Laurent Didier ; caméra et montage [camera and editing], Nicolas Philibert ; musique originale [original music], Philippe Hersant.

L'instituteur [teacher] Georges Lopez; les enfants de la classe [children in the class] Alizé, Axel, Guillaume, Jesse, Johan (Jojo), Johann, Jonathan, Julien, Laura, Létitia, Marie-Elizabeth, Nathalie, Olivier.

This film chronicles a year in the life of a one-room schoolhouse in rural France, presided over by Georges Lopez, a devoted teacher responsible for nurturing a dozen children ages 3-11. The film sees the teacher as artist, and presents teaching as a form of love. Because along with reading, writing, and arithmetic, the children learn about what we think of as the basic values of civilization: reason, tolerance, learning, cooperation, and comradeship. In one year, one dedicated teacher, sensitive to children's educational and emotional needs, exemplifies the importance of an abiding faith in children, and in education as a vocation.

MPAA rating: Not rated.

DVD; widescreen presentation, 16 x 9 letterboxed.

In French with optional subtitles in English.