''Once in a Lifetime'' (original title: ''Les Héritiers'') is a 2014 French

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar (born 26 January 1963) is a French film director, producer and screenwriter. She is most noted for her 2016 film ''Heaven Will Wait (Le Ciel attendra)'', for which she was a nominee for the Lumières Award for Best Sc ...

Plot

Based on a true story, the film chronicles the relationship of a teacher with teenagers who have long since dropped out of the school system. This teacher of Leon Blum high school at

Créteil Créteil () is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, Île-de-France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Créteil is the ''préfecture'' (capital) of the Val-de-Marne department as well as the seat of the Arrondissement of Cré ...

(

Val-de-Marne Val-de-Marne (, "Vale of the Marne") is a department of France located in the Île-de-France region. Named after the river Marne, it is situated in the Grand Paris metropolis to the southeast of the City of Paris. In 2019, Val-de-Marne had a pop ...

), decides to enter a national competition titled "Children and adolescents in the Nazi concentration camp system". Initially tumultuous and frustrating, the atmosphere quickly evolves as they meet with a survivor of the

camps Camps may refer to: People *Ramón Camps (1927–1994), Argentine general *Gabriel Camps (1927–2002), French historian *Luís Espinal Camps (1932–1980), Spanish missionary to Bolivia *Victoria Camps (b. 1941), Spanish philosopher and professor ...

and increasing intensity during a visit to a museum dedicated to this period of history. This experience will change their lives.

Cast

* Ariane Ascaride as Anne Gueguen * Ahmed Dramé as Malik *

Noémie Merlant Noémie Merlant (; born 27 November 1988) is a French actress and director. She has been nominated for her performances twice at the César Awards, including a nomination for her breakout role in ''Portrait of a Lady on Fire''. Career Merlant w ...

as Mélanie *

Geneviève Mnich Geneviève Mnich (born 19 February 1942), is a French actress. She has appeared in 80 films since 1972. She was born in Cuffies, Aisne, France. Selected filmography * ''Joséphine, ange gardien'' (2006) (1 Episode : "La Couleur de l'amour") * ...

as Yvette * Stéphane Bak as Max * Wendy Nieto as Jamila * Aïmen Derriachi as Saïd * Mohamed Seddiki as Olivier * Naomi Amarger as Julie * Alicia Dadoun as Camélia * Adrien Hurdubae as Théo * Raky Sall as Koudjiji * Amine Lansari as Rudy * Koro Dramé as Léa * Xavier Maly as the principal

Reception

Karen Schollemann called the film on kinocritics.com a "powerful tale about integration".

Accolades

References

External links

* 2014 films 2010s French-language films 2014 drama films French drama films Films about education Drama films based on actual events Films directed by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar 2010s French films {{2010s-France-film-stub