Her Head in Films

Nicolas Philibert's 'To Be and To Have' (2002)

Episode Summary

In this episode, I talk about Nicolas Philibert's 2002 documentary, "To Be and To Have." It focuses on a small school in rural France where the kind and patient teacher, Georges Lopez, instills a sense of worth in all of his students and connects with them one-on-one. The film shows the dynamics between the students who range in age, from kindergartners to teenagers and also looks at some of their struggles. I talk about childhood, separation, nostalgia, the importance of school in my own life, and the impact that various teachers had on me. Full show notes: https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-94-nicolas-philibert-s-to-be-an

Episode Notes

In this episode, I talk about Nicolas Philibert's 2002 documentary, "To Be and To Have." It focuses on a small school in rural France where the kind and patient teacher, Georges Lopez, instills a sense of worth in all of his students and connects with them one-on-one. The film shows the dynamics between the students who range in age, from kindergartners to teenagers and also looks at some of their struggles. I talk about childhood, separation, nostalgia, the importance of school in my own life, and the impact that various teachers had on me.

Full Show Notes:

• The Gleaners and I
• Marwencol
• A Man Named Pearl
• My episode on The Passion of Joan of Arc
• My episode on Cleo from 5 to 7
• My episode on Dogfight
• My episode on The Mouth Agape
• Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
• Won't You Be My Neighbor
• Columbine
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Hamlet by Shakespeare
• Annie Dillard
• My episode on Dead Poets Society
• "Silicon Valley Came to Kansas Schools. That Started a Rebellion." (The New York Times)

All My Sources:

• Nicolas Philibert: I have no idea what my films are about (The Guardian)
• Nicolas Philibert: interview (Time Out London)
• Être et avoir: The Medium and the Moment (Senses of Cinema)
• "A camera gives you incredible power over others" by Nicolas Philibert
• When avoir becomes more important than etre: now les enfants sue for slice of French film action (The Independent)
• Film's fallen hero fights on for his class (The Guardian)
  * "Massif Hit" by Geoff Andrew (Time Out London)
  * Back to basis by Richard Falcon (Sight and Sound)
• A Schoolroom Where Life is the Curriculum by Leslie Camhi (The New York Times)