Monsieur Lazhar (2012)

An Algerian immigrant (comic Fellag, in a subtle, serious performance) takes over as substitute in a Montreal classroom of traumatized kids after the on-site suicide of their teacher. And Monsieur has got troubles of his own. A 2012 Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, adapted by writer-director Philippe Falardeau from a one-man play, Monsieur Lazhar suffers at times from handling too many sadnesses at once. But the movie's tonic lack of sentimentality binds the various griefs together into something moving. B+