Miss Kiet’s Children

This documentary by Petra Lataster-Czisch and Peter Lataster might be considered a Dutch counterpart to Julie Bertuccelli’s School of Babel (VL-1/18), which followed immigrant students in an immersive "reception" class at a Paris secondary school over the course of a year. Miss Kiet’s Children observes youngsters in a classroom presided over by Kiet Engels, an almost preternaturally compassionate teacher in the small town of Hapert, whose kindly concern for her charges does not preclude stern intervention when behavioral problems arise. The class is a mix of local kids and new arrivals, but the film focuses on a quartet of refugees: Haya, an ebullient but sometimes overly aggressive Syrian girl who tends to dominate Leanne, a petite newcomer from her homeland; and Jorj and Maksim, brothers whose memories of violence lead to sleeping problems that cause poor concentration in class. Without narration, the film observes Engels as she oversees the students doing their lessons—they often help one another—and tends to individual kids in distress. She also polices their play during recess, ending disputes before they can escalate, and leads them in dance exercises that will culminate in a performance in a school show. Shot in simple fly-on-the-wall style, this is a touching tribute to the efforts of one dedicated teacher who recognizes the positive impact a wonderful educator can have on students from varied backgrounds with diverse needs. Extras include an interview with the directors, and deleted scenes. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)