The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Blistering performances.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

POOR POOR children with Autism-spectra in Britain! When the kid doesn't want to do his school work the teacher insists and when he gets angry, she grabs him and hold him like a STRAIGHTJACKET, he shout and spit at her (I would have done the same, it's a self- preservation act) and then she BLAIMES him for spiting, it was HER FAULT!!!! the pressure to do work was to great for him so back of, give him time, lower the expectations and try again! people who are able to behave, does it. The boy doesn't like to be angry but hasn't got the skills to act better. BACK OF AND LET HIM FIND HIS SELFCONTROL AGAIN!!!!!!I so hope that Britain changed their way of treating people that act out by now!

I saw this last night and was touched by this. you only hear the negative story's about this kind of schools, but in this movie you really see what happens there.I had no problems with the English btw, and it is not my native language.I really respect the "adults" who are working there and the restraint the have to show not to start shouting them self when one of the kids is spitting in their face and calling them awful names.Also great respect to Longinotto for the way of filming, there is no commentary but only shows what happens and you have to make up your own mind.

for most people this film will be a huge awakening to the level of difficulty some young people have with education due to the amount of abuse, violence and neglect they have encountered in their short lives. the scenes of teachers restraining children for the child's own safety and the language and actions used by the pupils will shock many people unfamiliar with special needs and ESBD education.to really grasp the film however one really needs to work in these settings, as otherwise they wont fully comprehend what the staff and pupils go through on a daily basis.a worth while watch for anyone, but a must for any educator worldwide.

I saw this film at the T/F Film Festival in Columbia, Missouri in March of 2008. The subject matter is very touching and what the teachers put up with is amazing. I have always felt that teachers that deal with students with special needs are saints in their own right. Having students spit on you, call you 'fatso' are just some of the milder things you witness in this movie. The working class English dialect was literally impossible to understand. Every few minutes they would put up sub-titles for some reason and that would get me all excited that more were to follow. But, alas, after an hour of needing more subtitles and trying to really figure out what was going on in this "film" I was mentally worn out. I kept wishing for some voice over narration to help pull this film together. I left exhausted.