Three films to see this weekend
'The Class'
This restrained, penetrating drama should be required viewing for all education majors. An optimistic teacher (teacher/novelist Francois Marin) has his patience and character tested by a racially mixed class during a single year in a Paris school. Laurent Cantet's movie shows us an educator's high (reaching a lost student) and low (heated words turn the class against him), while capturing the personalities and politics of a classroom social structure. The film never succumbs to cliché or formula, and should spur healthy debates. Winner of the 2008 Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. In French with subtitles. (PG-13) for language. 128 minutes.
Starts today at the Century Centre in Chicago, Renaissance Place in Highland Park and the Evanston CineArts 6.
'I.O.U.S.A.'
It didn't win an Oscar nomination, but it's still the scariest movie since "Mamma Mia" let Pierce Brosnan sing. Patrick Creadon's doc paints a bleak look at our financial future. The After Hours Film Society presents Creadon in person! Tickets $9. (630) 968-0219 or go to afterhoursfilmsociety.com.
7:30 p.m. Monday at the Tivoli Theater, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove.
See Oscar's shorts!
Here's your chance to see the Academy Award nominees in the animation and live-action shorts categories on the big screen for one week only. Winners will be announced on ABC Feb. 22. Go to musicboxtheatre.com or call (773) 871-6604.
Starts today at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago.