The First Year

... raw, edgy, spare... so beautiful and inspiring..." - The Washington Post

Winner of numerous festival awards including the prestigious Peabody, this powerful and moving film is a “must-see” for anyone who is, or has ever thought of, becoming a parent or teacher. The film chronicles the first year of five young teachers as they fight the real fight: educating our children, one child at a time. From acclaimed filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, THE FIRST YEAR shows the human side of the story, revealing all the determination and commitment it takes to survive in America’s toughest schools.

From kindergarten teacher Maurice, who refuses to give up as he fights to help a boy with speech problems, to Geneviève, who “wanted to teach the kids no one else wanted to teach,” the men, women, and children profiled in this film are sure to inspire and provoke debate. Intense and emotional, THE FIRST YEAR cuts through the education rhetoric and reminds us what is real: the powerful relationship between teacher and student.

Includes Bonus Film: TEACH

Designed to inspire a new generation of American teachers, this bonus film is a powerful accompaniment to THE FIRST YEAR, created to attract talented and passionate people into the teaching profession.

DVD Features

Bonus Film: TEACH; Teacher Commentary Tracks; Teacher Profiles; Epilogue with Teacher Commentary;

"...raw, edgy, spare... so beautiful and inspiring..."
- The Washington Post

©2001 Teachers Documentary Project. Art and Design ©2004 New Video Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Marketed and distributed in the U.S. by New Video.

Posted in Docurama, Festival Standouts, Social Issues | Tagged children, education, parenting, peabody