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.

• micro_scope
• CBC
• Mohamed Fellag
• Émilien Néron
• Danielle Proulx
• Sophie Nélisse
• Marie-Ève Beauregard
• Denise Lamontagne
• Brigitte Poupart
• Louis Champagne