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Arte Debuts Child-Level Paris Kindergarten Documentary ‘Qu’est-ce qu’on va faire de toi ?’

The year-long, child-height portrait is presented by its makers as a civic plea to defend public schooling.

Overview

  • The 52-minute film by Salma Cheddadi and Karelle Fitoussi airs on Arte on 18 February at 22:30 and is available on Arte.tv.
  • Shot over a year at École maternelle Popincourt in Paris’s 11th arrondissement, the school is classified REP and known for rare social mix.
  • Adults are kept out of frame as the directors use a single camera and weekly sessions to capture five-year-olds at their own height.
  • The children openly discuss love, religion, immigration and strikes, make protest placards during a real demonstration, and hold a delegate election.
  • The filmmakers describe the work as a citizen gesture in support of public education and hope it serves as a discussion tool, with early audiences responding warmly.