O Dia da Saia

It's well made from a technical standpoint, and in regards to all those facets contributed from behind the scenes that are often taken for granted. Be that as it may, there are two aspects of importance to this film. The first is the acting. Everyone in the cast gives a strong, highly admirable performance of earnest range, nuance, physicality, personality, and emotional depth, and the acting is unquestionably the highlight of the feature. Denis Podalydès, Sonia Amori, Yann Ebonge, Sarah Douali, and Khalid Berkouz all stand out among others - though by far, certainly Isabelle Adjani is the real star, and proves her skill once again. It's no wonder she won yet another César award for her portrayal of beleaguered teacher Sonia Bergerac; if her turn here is any lesser in comparison to her acting elsewhere, it's only because 'Possession,' for example, was a truly once in a lifetime tour de force. Though I've yet to personally see everything Adjani has been in, I can't wait to explore more of her oeuvre, and if I have the chance I'd love to see more from her co-stars, too. More than anything else, the value of 'La journée de la jupe' is in the strength of the ensemble, and it's worth watching just for them.

However, I did say there are two aspects of importance here. The second is the script. The premise is simple: a teacher, pushed to the absolute limit by a classroom she can't control, finds herself in possession of a handgun and events rapidly spiral out. I deeply appreciate what writer and director Jean-Paul Lilienfeld tried to weave into his screenplay; the feature plays with crucial big ideas worth dissecting. The problem is that there are too many big ideas for this one picture, and the narrative gets bogged down as a result. Herein are we treated to notions of racism, misogyny, violence against women, toxic masculinity, posturing, sexual assault, victim-blaming, religious persecution, hypocrisy, feminism, misinterpretation of stated ideals or proposals (deliberate or otherwise), gun violence and gun control, bureaucracy, public education, accountability, law enforcement and crisis management, immigration, latent tensions within communities, scapegoating - and much, much more. All these are topics worthy of examination and discussion. All these are topics ripe for utilization in storytelling. That this movie wants to say something about all of them is overwhelming, both for the viewer and for the movie; like a school student whose class presentation struggles with all the thoughts they want to mention surrounding a single subject (we've all been there), the result is that none of these topics are given the treatment they deserve, and 'La journée de la jupe' feels unfocused and a little floundering as a result.

As one last unfortunate impression to be left on us, the final scene is simply heavy-handed to the point of being a tad gawky rather than meaningful.

It's not a bad film. It's a good film, in fact. Lilienfeld's direction is solid, the effects and stunts are well done, and the production design is great. I like the music, even if it feels a smidgen ill-fitting in the last stretch. Everything looks and sounds good, and once more, the chief reason to watch is by far the tremendous acting. It's just regrettable that Lilienfeld's reach exceeded his grasp when it came to the writing. I can only commend the ambition and intent, and for what it's worth the characterizations are a treasure trove, but I think the screenplay and the realization thereof would have benefited if some of the many concepts broached herein were dropped so as to tighten and center the story. True, perhaps that unwieldy assemblage is appropriate in some off-kilter way, just as Sonia finds herself in an unmanageable situation with too many points that could be raised. That the character's dilemma sort of becomes the feature's, well, there's the rub. I think 'La journée de la jupe' is worth watching if one comes across it, overwhelmingly for the cast alone, and specifically but not exclusively Adjani. If you're looking for a precise, thoughtful drama of social issues, however - or even just a good, well-rounded movie generally - I'm just not sure that this is going to be the title to satisfy.

A mix of "Entre les Murs" ("The Class"), Michael Douglas' "Falling down" and maybe "Negotiator" (2008), this gripping even if unlikely film stars Isabelle Adjani, showing she's a great actress, and Denis Podalydès as "Brigadier Labouret" , who doesn't have to show anything, as a cop with problems at home.

Everybody has an antagonist in life, his Salieri. In this case, our brigadier has Bechet, who wants swift action, "shoot first, think later", style. Labouret, maybe because he knows from experience how things can quickly get out of control, tries to help our beautiful heroine, Sonia Bergerac, a literature teacher in an underprivileged state high school. Isabelle Adjani being born outside France, it's clear why she chose to star this film, and some of her monologues when she's not out of control are of course her "message", like when she tries to educate her unruly pupils about the value of education, how they owe it to their struggling immigrant parents to achieve something for all they've left behind, and how life isn't that tough for students like them, but it's ruthless for those (foreigners) who don't.

The State is represented by Nathalie Besançon, (also playing a classy chief at TV series "Enquêtes réservées") always beautiful, but easily misled, and the school principal "Cauvin", a bureaucrat, like all of his kind, trying to save his skin above everything else.

This film will keep you glued to your seat, it would be a disaster on a lesser actress than Adjani. Unpredictable, out of control, "like an actor who has lost his plot" as others have written. My gripes are two: I would have liked a bit more of screen time to "Mouss", the violent bully, and his pal. What makes them be as they are? The same for the female pupils, or should I say victims, Farida and specially Nawel, Nathalie's unlikely ally, also with issues of her own. I also didn't believe in the feminist issues, like the film's title for instance, or Sonia's lecturing on how males and females differ in terms of attitudes towards them when they have sex. For a sophisticated Moliere teacher, I think this sounds too like pop psychology. I mean, is that her "reivindication" for the media, what Labouret asks her, doggedly, and mistakenly of course?

This is also a film that will keep you thinking. What would you do to engage this troubled, rowdy teens if you had to teach them anything? How do you think they'll fare in life? Farid wanting to keep his bonnett is just an example of a bigger issue. Is laicisim just a fancy word with a bunch of violent kids who want to be footballers, read People magazine and participate in TV shows? Sonia, no cultural relativist, (notice her surname, with heavy literary significance) pokes fun at her pupils's lack of intellectual ambitions, in a very "grand actor's" way. She starts by trying to give them the class she never could deliver. Like making them memorize the real and fake name of Moliere, etc. But later, she finally makes them participate in a sort of "Big brother" contest, among themselves, just showing she's beginning to engage the pupils using their codes and language, understanding the limits of XIX century "classical" education, specially to XXI century "fragmented" / postmodern pupils!

The use of classical music (Mozart) to highlight the contrast between it, the "traditional culture" and the "all to modern" world in which our teacher fights is a resource that has been used before, but is effective, nevertheless.

There are two IMDb reviews you might like to check: "ck_104 from Lebanon" called this film a "committed/ social thriller", I think you can't expect a better one. And "herve naudet", himself a pupil like the ones we see at this tough film, who writes that Adjani lives her parts, and plays with her guts. I agree with "nyc host" from France that: "this film is more to-the-point than the very flat and bland take of the last Palmes d'Or 'Entre les Murs' ". And probably with ghibliii from United Kingdom here: (Adjani) "looks way too luxurious and sophisticated for the social milieu"

Nevertheless, it's a very good film by actor and director Jean-Paul Lilienfeld. I'm looking forward to watching more films directed by him. My favourite scene is of course her monologue with red lighting, in the beginning of the film and then later, you'll understand why.

Enjoy and think about it!

PS: Not because it's obvious it's less true: Adjani is stunning in her classy white tailleur and boots with high heels. Angel's face, really. Life's unfair :).

Isabelle Adjani's face is immobile most of the time...too much botox? she looks young but not quite herself. and her hairstyle covers her face. I get she is middle school teacher, but couldn't they get her a better outfit, skirt. It looked like something at old navy in the bargin bin, and that white jacker. Ok she's older, isn't as thin, still. Her character is kin dof in an altered state- so the blank immobile face fits- but still.... Interesting on some levels, not the worse I've seen. Tries to cover a sensitive subject, racism, lack of hope or reach by marginalized French Muslim, lower class, rape. But are the French cops that stupid. I didn't like the end. O.K., we are not supposed to like the end. Trying to make us uncomfortable, but I think more trying to sensationalize the film. Maybe bec it tried to say something I gave it a week 6 (3 out of 5) & not lower.

I suspect every teacher has wondered if she/he be able to get the kids attention by pointing a gun at them. Having spent some time teaching I can really emphasize with Sonia Bergerac in this film. I loved the part where she starts to actually teach the lesson on Moliere and uses the gun to force an unruly student to cooperate. Of course real education can't function like that, but its probably a fantasy of many teachers.

The film contains quite a bit of irony, and random chaos. I don't wish to give away too much of the story, other than to say taking the students hostage was accidental, and once she had started she was completely unable to figure out how to get out of the situation. The film has a very claustrophobic feel to it. They are trapped in a small little drama while outside larger dramas unfold including political issues, debates about how the crisis should be handed by the police, dispute between cultures, and sexual exploitation of some students. But Sonia and her class are locked within a small sound proof room.

Isabelle Adjani once again demonstrates that she is a extraordinary actress who is entirely convincing in her role. Vulnerable at times, and scary in the next moment.

The film has comic moments such as her demand for a national skirt day, but is largely dramatic and tragic in its tone. The film explores the clash of cultures, prejudice, and the real meaning of sexual liberation.

A high school teacher loses it and ends up holding hostages half her class, turning the situation into a reflexive introspection on the various crisis of modern youths.

Isabelle Adjani, very pretty in her white skirt and blazer, and rolled-up sleeve holding "caids" at gunpoint, is unpredictable and convincing - the rest of the cast, amateur or not, is very weak.

The subject (education and equality) is strong, very relevant and more to-the-point than the very flat and bland take of the last Palmes d'Or "Entre les Murs".

La Journée de la Jupe takes it to another level, more brutal, more real and less entertaining. Less humor and more critical analysis.

The two weakness of the movie are the very feeble and bad acting on almost all the characters. And the overuse of Issues. During the hour and half, the movie feels obliged to tackle every single issues possible: from gang rape to condoms, from Islam to immigration, from respect to racism ... Too much. I was almost waiting to hear about Finance or the Ozone layer ....

Interesting subject but awkward construction.