There's a potency to this film, largely thanks to a carefully judged performance by Marina Foïs as novelist and tutor Olivia, and a charismatic one by Matthieu Lucci as her most difficult student, Antoine.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There's a potency to this film, largely thanks to a carefully judged performance by Marina Foïs as novelist and tutor Olivia, and a charismatic one by Matthieu Lucci as her most difficult student, Antoine.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The film is well acted and well made. At more than two hours, you feel it.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Laurent Cantet's low-key documentary-style adds an artless naturalism that offers little in the way of entertainment.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Laurent Cantet's low-key documentary-style adds an artless naturalism that offers little in the way of entertainment.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Instead of context and plot, Cantet has aimed at a character-based narrative, which falls flat due to lack of characters.

~ David Stanners -

Instead of context and plot, Cantet has aimed at a character-based narrative, which falls flat due to lack of characters.

~ David Stanners -

Teachers everywhere will give a smile of recognition as an experienced teacher takes a new colleague through his class list – “nice, nice, not nice, not nice at all…”

~ Val Kermode -

Teachers everywhere will give a smile of recognition as an experienced teacher takes a new colleague through his class list – “nice, nice, not nice, not nice at all…”

~ Val Kermode -

The seven stories knit together well, and provide an engrossing and alternative view of a city whose image has long been absorbed into popular culture

~ Emma Slawinski -

The seven stories knit together well, and provide an engrossing and alternative view of a city whose image has long been absorbed into popular culture

~ Emma Slawinski -