The Class

Brutal bullying catalyzes a high school massacre in the harrowing teen drama The Class. Provocative, naturalistic pic should put Estonian helmer Ilmar Raag on the radar of top industry brass. Like Elephant, it’s inspired by the Columbine tragedy, but unlike Gus Van Sant’s film, it posits a rationale for the violence. More controversially, it puts auds in the uncomfortable position of wanting the bullies severely punished. – – Well-made pic perfectly captures the fraught world of public high school, from nasty student cliques to wellmeaning but oblivious teachers. Parental figures, too, are clueless.
– ALISSA SIMON, VARIETY