If you are a person who barges your way through life without paying much attention to anyone else or the world around you then give this film a miss. If on the other hand you are someone who revels in the intricacies, secrecy's and delicacies of life then pay close attention. This is a film that unravels, and quietly reveals some of the wonders of human existence. Stick with it, pay attention, concentrate and don't be distracted and I promise you will be rewarded with not just a film you've seen but a viewing experience.It evokes emotions, half-remembered, maybe deliberately forgotten, of a time in our lives when our rubbers really mattered, when the photocopier was truly a mystery, when we ended up arse in the mud. The quality of innocence permeates through and sadness hangs over it as you realise the safety of this idyllic classroom will not last for ever, these children will have to step out and face the realities of the world around them. Each has their hopes and ambitions, and their own problems, yet what does the world really have in store for them? Mnsr Lopez is shown in no context other than that of a teacher. We get the impression there is nothing else in his life and yet we are shown no regrets or longing for anything different. He has achieved this position and seems proud and fulfilled. Whether this is true or not (especially when viewed in context of his subsequent attempt to get a share of the movies profits) his character works as an ideal. We all want to achieve this state in our lives yet is difficult (if not impossible) to achieve within the urban environment. Those who chase material wealth, possessions and status may find this state of being difficult to understand as it quite simply cannot exist in a world run along the rules of competition and advancement. The film also reminds us of our own mortality- Msr Lopez is reaching retirement and we wonder exactly where will he find his fulfilment once the children are gone. We remember everything is fleeting, just like our lives, and truly it is the moments of beauty, the people that make us laugh and cry, the relationships and achievements that bring us joy and fulfilment. The film reminds us of all this beauty in the world, and what is important- our communities,our children, our learning and our spirit.
Review of To Be and to Have
