Synopsis
In the Makarenko public elementary school in the Paris outskirts, children want to learn and to be cheered while teachers know they do not only teach, they also educate. With care, tenacity and efforts, children are trained to become not only responsible citizens but also human beings.
A word from Tënk
A hug, two arguments, three sums.
One science experiment, two songs, three definitions.
One sleeping, two laughing, three searching.
What happens at Makarenko Primary School in Ivry-sur-Seine once the gate is closed? Claire Simon’s camera quietly slips into classrooms, the playground, and the principal’s office, giving full space to the young students and their teachers. With a delicate and sensitive approach, the filmmaker reveals how children learn not only academic subjects but also the art of living together. She takes her time, focusing on details that allow us to grasp the emotional context. Always discreet, her gaze speaks volumes about our humanity.
This film is meant to be watched to believe in a better world.
Catherine Soum
Tënk Subscriber
