Oscar-nominated 'Monsieur Lazhar' now on DVD
“Monsieur Lazhar”
This emotionally charged and inspirational film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. It stars Mohammed Fellag as Bachir Lazhar, an Algerian refugee who seeks asylum in Canada. While reading the news, he discovers the story of a teacher who killed herself in a middle-school classroom. Lazhar, who was a teacher in Algiers, is intrigued and wants to find out more about the school. Officials there have been having a difficult time finding a teacher to take over so Lazhar, who loves kids, applies for the job and gets its.
Lazhar has his own methods of teaching and wants to bring out the best in each student. The story features two young students who feel a form of guilt, because they were the first ones who saw the teacher hanging from the ceiling. And on a personal level, Lazhar is dealing with his own pain, as he left his wife and family when he immigrated to Canada.
The film is well-acted and written.
“Classic Monsters Spotlight”
Universal Studios is celebrating its 100th anniversary by releasing classic films and collections. Many of the films have been remastered with new packaging and bonus features. The four films in this collection, which retail for $19.98, are: “The Mummy” with Boris Karloff, “The Wolf Man” with Lon Chaney Jr., “The Invisible Man” with Claude Rains and “Phantom of the Opera” with Rains and Nelson Eddy. Bonus features include documentaries, featurettes, shorts, archives, production notes and more.
“Thriller: Fan Favorites”
Boris Karloff hosted a television show that ran from 1960 to 1962 and starred many actors who later became famous — including William Shatner, Marion Ross and Rip Torn. The stories were filled with terror and suspense, and this two-disc set features 10 of the finest episodes.
“The Magic School Bus: The Complete Series”
This animated show, the longest-running science series to air on television, features the voice cast of Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, Tony Randall, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Wynonna Judd.
The DVD set includes all 52 episodes on eight discs. Kids will have a chance to learn about weather, digestion, coral reefs and much more. They will love the trivia and experiments, while parents get a guide with lessons and learning options.
Available Next Week
• “Chicago Cubs: Essential Games'
• “Don McLean: American Troubadour”
• “Hammer House of Horrors: Complete Series”
• “One Step Beyond”
• “Snow White and the Huntsman”
• “Up All Night: Season One”
• “What to Expect When You're Expecting”