Front of the Class – inspiring movie

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As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t watch many videos for entertainment. I find it really hard to find movies that I deeply enjoy and find valuable.

Last night I happened on such a wonderful movie that I had to share it with you! Front of the Class is the true story of a young man with Tourettes syndrome, who is determined to be the kind of teacher he never had. To watch how this man never gave up in the face of this unending challenge and refused to let the Tourettes determine his quality of life was very, very inspiring and very moving.

My husband watched it with me and we were getting teary eyed at the same parts. 🙂 This movie was simply beautiful, extremely well acted and very moving. It leaves you with a powerful message to believe in yourself and never give up no matter how hard things are.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did! If you watch it I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Avivah

Comments

10 responses to “Front of the Class – inspiring movie”

March 4, 2014

Elisheva

That was one of the best movies I have seen in ages, and it’s been a while since I have actually watched one. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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1. March 4, 2014
  
  Avivah
  
  So glad you enjoyed it!
  
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March 4, 2014

chaya yehudis dank

Agreed, an amazing movie. Most inspiring movie seen in a long time. Thanks so much for posting.

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March 4, 2014

rachelli

wow! wow! wow! my husband and I watched it together. he had an amazing mother. , brother, family, . his principal from middle school also really brought him out . g-d really watched over him, and it was special to see the real ” brad cohen”, at the end. thanx for sharing it with us.

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1. March 5, 2014
  
  Avivah
  
  I also thought his family – particularly his mother – was amazing.
  
  Your comment prompted me to do a quick search for Brad Cohen on youtube and I saw a ten minute speech he gave – really nice and so interesting to see the real person speaking from the podium. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q_2GYsOxyY
  
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March 5, 2014

Rivka

I loved the film – it had so many teary-eye parts – my favorite was the part with the principal at the school concert.

Thank you so much for sharing.

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1. March 5, 2014
  
  Avivah
  
  I also loved that part about the principal- especially because you didn’t know if it was going to be another situation of a teacher humiliating him in public again or not.
  
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March 10, 2014

Dahlia

I apologize if this comment is too long, hope it’s okay to share:

I also watched it and was inspired, thanks! I couldn’t wait until my two young boys went to bed so they saw some of it too.

When the main character, Brad, stood up on stage and spoke with the principle in front of everyone, he told the principle that “I just want to be treated like everybody else”. That message really stood out to my 5.5 year old.

I want to share an experience that happened to us later in the day after watching it:
Later when we were in the park it was late afternoon and then it quickly turned into evening and darkness. We then left the park to pick something up from the store and returned home by way of that park. There was a little girl, about 5 years old (who I had seen before in the neighborhood with her mother on several occasions), playing in the rocks by the swings with her brother (about 7) close by. I think the little girl is going through treatment of cancer and had barely any hair on her head.

My 5.5 year old son ran up ahead of me with his friend and did something very embarrassing to me as his mother. He started saying something like “kof kof ani lo mefached mim cha” and then ran off laughing. I had pain right through my chest at that moment. The little girl had gotten startled and bonked her head on a nearby bar. She ran to her brother crying… I didn’t see her parents (there are apartments surrounding the park that I’m sure they must have been in) but I quickly went over and offered my assistance and grave apologies, including for my son who was far up ahead. My nearly four year old was by my side and just quietly stood there and looked at the little girl. I took my son’s hand and got up to go and wished them both to feel well.

Later that evening, after my sons friend went home and we were going to bed (when he was in a better state to absorb rebuke) I told him how sad I was about how he treated that girl. I reminded him of the movie we saw earlier in the morning and the message that stood out to him. (there was also a part of the movie when the adult Brad was a teacher and had a student with cancer – who sadly died, but they didn’t show any details of the affects of her treatments). He said to me that he shouldn’t have said those things. Then I asked him what could be a reason that he could think of as to why she only came out when it was very dark, only having the park lamps light to play in. First he said “maybe cause she goes to school”, but then I reminded him how it was light earlier and there were plenty of kids who went to school that played when it was light and none of them where there in the dark.

He said something like “maybe she didn’t want to be seen… and teased?”… Click. She just wanted to be treated “like everyone else”. To do things, like everyone else.
This movie gave us a springboard for meaningful discussions and understandings of people who may be/do/or look different then us.

Thanks again for sharing this movie.

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1. March 11, 2014
  
  Avivah
  
  Dahlia, the way you handled the situation with your son was wonderful. Rather than getting upset at him in the moment, you waited until a better time and gave him a chance to think about and understand the situation rather than lecture at him. This is a great example of how to help kids learn empathy. I’m so glad you shared this with us!
  
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March 11, 2014

Goldy

Wow! This was really amazing. Not letting Tourette’s win him was powerful.
Most people especially me have a something, fear or phobia that sometimes I think that that’s who I am, but that is only an aspect of me. That’s not my ID. We all have obstacles in our life it all depends wether we make it a problem or a challenge.
Thanks Avivah keep posting I love it.

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