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It All Starts Today

7.5

10,208

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Original title

Ça commence aujourd'hui

Year

1999

Running time

117 min.

Country

France

Director

Bertrand Tavernier

Screenwriter

Dominique Sampiero, Tiffany Tavernier, Bertrand Tavernier

Cast

Music

Louis Sclavis

Cinematography

Alain Cloquart

Producer

Les Films Alain Sarde, Little Bear, TF1 Films Production

Genre

Drama | Education. Childhood. Social Drama. Job/Employment

Synopsis

Daniel is schoolmaster of a kindergarten in a small French town. The local economy, which depended entirely on coal production, has been mired in a depression ever since the mines were closed. When their parents fall into utter discouragement or even poverty because of prolonged unemployment, the children suffer the consequences. Daniel is confronted daily with difficult situations and he feels responsible to deal with them although they are outside the scope of his responsibilities. This is a frustrating task: politicians are concerned with tightening their budgets, bureaucrats in the intricate web of French social and educational services with their prerogatives, utility companies with getting their bills paid; teachers, social workers, and policemen are overwhelmed. Daniel's relations with his parents, but also with Valeria, his fiancée, and her son are not entirely smooth either. He nevertheless soldiers on with the staff of the kindergarten, all doing their best to educate the children of a severely disrupted society.

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Rankings Position

#52 Best French Movies of all time
#82 Best Movies of the '90s

Awards: 1999: Berlin Film Festival: International Critic Award FIPRESCI, Honourable Mention

1999: César Awards: Nominated for Best Actor (Torreton)

1999: European Film Awards: Nominated for Best Actor (Philippe Torreton)

1999: Goya Awards: Nominated for Best European Film

2000: Lumière Awards: Best Actor.

2000: Fotogramas de Plata: Best Foreign Movie according to Critics.

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Critics' reviews

"A tender and passionate protest, not without laughter (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"A war movie that happens to take place in a nursery school in northern France, this is wrenching, unpatronising social conscience cinema"

Time Out
"Helmer Bertrand Tavernier turns potentially downbeat material into a warm, often invigorating and ultimately moving ode to community values"

Derek Elley: Variety

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Ranking Lists Position

62 My Favorite French Movies (55)

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