Boobirt Stylish but barely mediocre overall

Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

MartinHafer I really liked this film despite it being, at times, preachy. Having been a social worker and now a school teacher and having worked with many dysfunctional families like the ones portrayed in the film, I could definitely relate to the overwhelmed and well-meaning kindergarten director. Although set in France, it sure looked like some of our American schools because of child abuse, substance abuse as well as an overly bureaucratic system that didn't seem to do anything to help. The acting was also a standout, as the characters were very believable and it looked in many ways more like a documentary starring real people than a film. About the only negatives I could see were the preachiness of the film at times and also the apparent message that more money needs to be spent to deal with these problems. Although having become VERY jaded by my experiences in the field, I don't think money is the answer but enforcing accountability by the politicians, social workers, parents and teachers is the key. As we see in the movie, it's VERY easy to come with excuses why NOT to work for change but actually doing something takes someone special.

dbdumonteil A very mediocre French series "l'instit" contributed to giving the audience a false picture of the schoolteacher.In that poor sitcom ,actor Gerard Klein was some kind of superhero (on a motorcycle!) who acted like a pacifist Zorro or K2000.Bertrand Tavernier and his wonderful thespian ,Philippe Torreton,de la Comédie Française set the record straight.First of all,this is a true story,inspired by a schoolteacher's books.And Tavernier is an artist whose best works ("l'horloger de Saint-Paul" "la mort en direct" and his masterpiece" la vie et rien d'autre")deal with the dignity of man. And as the title says "the future begins today" as everything is possible when the man's young can still wonder,discover,and ... perhaps love the world before he discovers the darker side of it.Because ,for most of the children we meet in this movie,the darker side is at their door,inside their houses,and School is the only way for them of getting away with a somber future.There are courageous lines against the Champagne socialists -When the movie was released,there were commies in the French government-"I could have expected more from a communist mayor!" the teacher says to the notable who closes the canteen to the children whose family is no longer able to pay.There is a very realistic scene between the teacher and his inspector.Although the former 's work is admirable,the state employee slags him off because he's blind and deaf to the world outside him,all he wants to do is to climb the upper rungs of the social ladder .Never the inspector hints at the children's plight,his narrow-minded view remains abstract and completely mindless:how could a group of four year old toddlers be autonomous?A Tribute to the teachers ,who now more than ever need gratefulness and understanding,Tavernier's movie is deeply moving and deserves to be highly recommended.He equals Kenneth Loach here,not a small feat.

kevin c With a definite nod to Loach, Tavernier has produced an excellent educational tale. A film that manages to be depressing, heartwarming, and will have you tearing your heart out. Perhaps a tad sentimental ending, but it carries the message and narrative well.An eye-opener, because it shows a side of France barely shown by cinema aside from the likes of "La Haine".

sediwell Bertrand Tavernier continues to prove he is one of the master modern directors. Although he made his name with a series of stunning period dramas his recent dissections of the failure of modern French society have been equally brilliant and It All Starts Today is his greatest yet. This simple tale of a struggling school master in a depressed suburb to care for his young charges in the face on uncaring bureaucracy and emotionally destroyed parents is a heart rending masterpiece from start to finish. If any foreign language film deserved the Oscar this is it.