L'ennemi de la classe

Class Enemy was a Revelation at Miskolc CINEFEST, 2014: If one of the basic purposes of a film festival is to discover and reveal new talent from small countries then Jameson Miskolc in rural Hungary is doing a truly remarkable job. Apart from four discoveries mentioned yesterday even more powerful new films have surfaced since -- from smaller countries that one does not generally think of as sources of quality cinema. On day number four (September 15) I was astounded by the quality of a film from Slovenia -- yes, Slovenia -- a teeny country sandwiched in between Austria, Italy and Croatia. The film in question is called "RAZREDNI SOVRADNIK" which translates as "Class Enemy", a kind of update to the XXI. Century of the Hollywood Classic "The Blackboard Jungle" (1955), but far more profound and powerful in dealing with the wider repercussions of a high school rebellion.

A very strict and erudite substitute teacher of German replaces a popular female German teacher on maternity leave. The obstreperous students quickly label him a Fascist and hold him personally responsible when a girl in the class commits suicide after playing Chopin Opus 38 for him behind closed doors. The ethereal Chopin piano passages become a leit motif throughout the film referencing shy Sabina, the girl who committed suicide -- an act only referred to but not actually seen on screen.

The entire school now rebels against established authority until an eventual compromise between faculty and student body is reached, but not before the whole town has gotten involved and all kinds of personal side issues have cropped up. Slovenian actor Igor Samobor (56) is in total command of the role of the unsavory controversial Thomas Mann spouting teacher -- the Class Enemy of the title, and very attractive actress Natasa Barbara Gracner(45) is most ingratiating as the cool headed school principal in change of handling the widening social crisis. All student roles are excellent in a perfectly balanced ensemble cast where each personality is clearly defined. This is an unusually mature debut by a 28 year old director, Roc Bicek, unquestionably a talent to keep eye on. Voted best film of the festival, young Bicek was on hand to pick up his well deserved award at the closing ceremony/

Photo: Rebellious students come to class all wearing masks of the face of a classmate who committed suicide in Roc Bicek's "Class Enemy"