Monsieur Lazhar: Lazhar

Philippe Falardeau Dept: The Quebec filmmaker said he was thrilled "that a film, an intimate film like Monsieur Lazhar , can exist in Hollywood alongside the biggest films in the world. I think it says a lot about the fact that we have to make the movies that we have inside of us and not try to imitate any kind of recipe," he told reporters by phone from the Sundance Film Festival, where his acclaimed elementary school drama is screening, according to CBC. Falardeau's Monsieur Lazhar tells the tale of an Algerian immigrant and substitute instructor who helps students grieve the tragic death of their teacher. It has already earned a raft of honours on the past year's film festival circuit. "Indescribable and unbelievable," is how Philippe Falardeau felt Tuesday morning after learning that his moving Canadian drama Monsieur Lazhar is one of five foreign film finalists for the Academy Awards. "This is a dream that I never imagined I would have, that is realizing itself." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.