The First Year (2001)

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

I am a professor in a college of education. I saw this movie when it was broadcast on PBS and purchased a copy of it for my Intro to Education classes. It is a realistic portrayal, though snapshot, of what it is like to be a new teacher (did middle school myself for many years). Each of the 5 teachers confront the myriad of problems that all first year teachers face. Their struggles and frustrations are evident. The movie runs approximately 80 minutes but is done so as a series of 10-12 minute vignettes. This allows one to view the movie over a number of classes, which I do with my Intro students. It is an effective instructional resource, but also an engaging undocumentary-like movie simply for the viewing. One witnesses numerous issues as they arise and these make for great discussion topics in a class. I strongly recommend this movie.

Yes, the film is inspiring and evokes awe for the beautiful work depicted. But the film sets up classroom relationships based on care and love, opposed to expectations of learning, testing, and obedience. Little attention is given to the learning that is likely expected to be done. Further, from my experience inside CPS classrooms, as well as stories from other teachers, the behavioral issues depicted in the film are non-existent to mind-numbingly mild. If the classrooms in the film were intended to model how classrooms ought to be, I would fully agree. Unfortunately, the film ought to be watched as a piece of recruiting propaganda and public schooling fantasy.For a different perspective on youth and school-life, though not focused on teachers, check out 'Chain Camera'. Also filmed in LA in 2001, this film has students taking a camera with them for a week each to record their lives. The stories of several students are edited to comprise this interesting portrayal of youth culture.

This is such a fantastic documentary. Gives you a whole new appreciation for teachers, especially the five portrayed here. I hope they (the teachers) stay with their work as they are obviously working from a deep passion and calling. And for the same reasons, I hope these filmmakers keep doing the work they're doing.Thank God for PBS and who ever funds movies like this. Good stuff. Watch if you get a chance. An excellent documentary. This movie is impossible to forget. Great, great, great. Students should watch this movie at the beginning of every year. Not only to help them appreciate the good teachers they have, but also to understand that there are a few weak links in the chain as well.

This is a fantastic, engaging, wonderful documentary. It chronicles the the first year of teaching in inner-city Los Angeles for five (and on DVD, six) first time teachers.The insight these heroes give into the rights and wrongs of the teaching profession are emotional and inspiring. It is a film that every citizen of this country must see.The DVD adds a promotional video called TEACH, and the teacher commentaries options provides further insight into the lives these five fascinating individuals that you cannot help but love.