Sanctuary Lessons: Monsieur Lazhar: A Study Guide

Monsieur Lazhar (Philippe Falardeau, 2012), an affecting film about a substitute teacher in Montreal, poses questions about how best to deal with trauma within a school community and grief in young children. In this study guide, Marguerite O'Hara outlines how the film can be used to prompt discussion among secondary students about personal loss, ethics in the classroom, the plight of refugees and even the sociopolitical climate of Algeria.