Inspired by the French phenomenon of 'single-class' schools, 'étre Et Avoir' charts the life of a small one-class village school over the course of one academic year, and takes a warm and serene look at primary education in the French heartlands.

A dozen youngsters, aged 4-10, are brought together in one classroom and taught every subject by one single teacher of extraordinary dedication. A master in quiet authority, schoolteacher Georges Lopez patiently navigates the children towards adolescence, cooling down their arguments and listening to their problems.

'it's one of the very finest films you're likely to see in a long time. Just beautiful.'-

Time out