THE WORKSHOP (L’ATELIER) World Cinema

Palme d’Or-winning French filmmaker Laurent Cantet has never shied away from controversy or pushing boundaries, and his latest effort is no different. Parisian author Olivia leads a small writing workshop for teens, where she battles indifference, disruptive cell phones and raging hormones. But when a real threat rears its head, Olivia must find a way to stand up for what’s right, and, more importantly, to show the kids how to discover what’s right for themselves. Proof that dialogue can be as viscerally effective as onscreen violence, THE WORKSHOP offers a masterful and profound lesson for us all. – Lane Kneedler