La cour de Babel (School of Babel)

Synopsis

Immigrant children who speak little or no French study in a special class in Paris while they learn the language in this insightful documentary. Aged between 11 and 15, the students come from all over the globe, including Ukraine, Libya, Ireland and Venezuela, and have very different stories. Rama from Senegal was mistreated by family members and masks her insecurity with antagonism. Meanwhile, Xin from China has been recently reunited with her mother, and we watch her transform from a lonely and withdrawn girl to a laughing member of the class. The camera stays mostly in the classroom, as we follow the ups and downs of the school year.