Sign in
Trailer

To Be and to Have

2002Movie1 h 44 minNR

Documentary
85
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.8Metacritic877.6Rotten Tomatoes97%91%

A wholesome, hopeful documentary movie about everyday modern life and growing up.

Good for family movie night · friends night · party vibe

Skip it if you want something to laugh at · you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

Set your services

Fingerprint

Not for scares, laughs or brutality.

Movies with

Story

An observation of the humanity of young people.

The documentary's title translates as "to be and to have", the two auxiliary verbs in the French language. It is about a primary school in the commune of Saint-Étienne-sur-Usson, Puy-de-Dôme, France, the population of which is just over 200. The school has one small class of mixed ages (from four to twelve years), with a dedicated teacher, Georges Lopez, who shows patience and respect for the children as we follow their story through a single school year.

Feels like

  • Documentary
  • Education
  • French School
  • Rural Life
  • Teacher-Student Relationship
  • Coming-of-Age
  • Wholesome
  • Social Commentary

Cast

14 of 14

Crew

Directed by
Nicolas Philibert
Written by
Nicolas Philibert
Produced by
Gilles Sandoz
Music by
Philippe Hersant

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

August 28, 2002 · 1 h 44 min · NR

Released
August 28, 2002
Runtime
1 h 44 min
Age rating
NR
Genres
Documentary
Original language
French
Made in
France
Budget
$1 million
Available in
15 countries

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream To Be and to Have?"

Questions about To Be and to Have

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream To Be and to Have?

KanopyHooplaKino Film Collection

In the United States, To Be and to Have streams on Kino Film Collection, and it is free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla. It also streams in 11 other countries.

Is To Be and to Have worth watching?

85
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 85 (IMDb 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 87). Critics rate it higher (92 out of 100) than audiences (82).

Is To Be and to Have okay for kids?

NR

Yes: it's rated NR in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Will I feel good after watching To Be and to Have?

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting movie: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for hopefulness and 8 for wholesome.

Is To Be and to Have plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (7 of 10) and dialogue centrality (7 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is To Be and to Have in English?

French

No, it was made in French.