Monsieur Lazhar - Between Sugar-coating and Facing Reality

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Monsieur Lazhar - Between Sugar-coating and Facing Reality
Introduction:
(Context: Give a specific example from the reading or film to support your views. Include the title, author, and page, or set up the scene in the film.)
The film Monsieur Lazhar by Philippe Falrdeau, is a critical film that provides insight to how grief and loss should be dealt with. I chose this topic because it relates to my interest to how human beings should be more understanding of each other’s struggle. The protagonist, Bashir Lazhar, shows authenticity and human connection to his students. The mood of the film is set by the beginning scene, wherein a nice idyllic view is panned to one of the teachers who hung herself. The narrative on the story shows the opposing forces in the story, and the protagonist is set between sugar coating the situation, or choosing to confront reality in human ways. This dynamic shows the opposition of cultures, and the difference made by experience.
1 Should Monsieur Lazhar discuss the death and conflicts of the previous teacher with the students?
Discussing the death of the previous teacher with the students is considered taboo. The school principal has prohibited Lazhar’s probing into the death of the previous teacher. The school’s culture wants to adhere to formality and professionalism, and wants to make the school psychologist solely responsible for the kids’ grief and loss. However, Monsieur Lazhar makes every moment as an opportunity for learning. He is all about being true to oneself and practically facing the challenges to arrive at a solution. He defies social rules and norms in order to pursue an act that he deems right. He stands by his principles as a teacher, and makes it his responsibility to process the students about their loss. I believe that Monsieur Lazhar did the right thing by opening up and listening to his students’ loss.
The students’ emotions must be addressed in a proper way, where they can feel their authentic feelings without judgment. Human beings are socially dynamic and need the guidance of others, especially in the presence of trauma or negative events. You can not tell an individual to feel otherwise from what they are feeling in the moment. I believe that authenticity and courage to face negative emotions can help students deal with their grief. If the psychologist is solely put to handle the discussion of the students’ experience, then crucial moments of healing and finding solace can be missed. By talking the issue through, a dialogue is opened up which allows students to examine themselves and their emotions.
Reasons: Say why you have focused your observation on this particular example, argument, or character. What is the importance of your observation to your discussion
I believe that there is value in being in the moment and feeling something true to the heart. The psychologist’s work and the principal highlight the value of professionalism and formality. These two qualities make a successful employment, which the school institution wants for their children, Monsieur Lazhar on the other hand, ...