La Cour de Babel

They are Irish, Senegalese, Brazilian, Moroccan, Chinese… They are between 11 and 15 years old and have just arrived in France. For a year they will be all together in the same adaptation class of a Parisian secondary school. 24 students, 24 nationalities. In this multicultural arena, we see the innocence, the enthusiasm and inner turmoil of these teenagers who, caught in the midst of starting out on a new life, question our preconceived ideas and give us hope for a better future. SCHOOL OF BABEL (LA COUR DE BABEL) is a documentary film by Julie Bertuccelli, who follows this class over the course of a school year and uses her observations to create a portrait of migration, school, and integration. Shot at the Collège de la Grange aux Belles, the film shows how language exercises lead to discussions about identity, religion, and plans for the future, and how the young people's origins and family histories shape their view of their new home. Festival presentations at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and the Rome Film Festival brought the film international attention, along with nominations for the César Award for Best Documentary and Francophone film awards. SCHOOL OF BABEL (LA COUR DE BABEL) combines observed moments of everyday life with a clear view of educational equity and shows how the diversity of a globalized world comes together in a single classroom.