THE REVIEW

The First Year, a documentary shot in 1999 in greater Los Angeles, is plainly a teacher-recruitment film. But while that is its intent, it doesn't use artifice or embellishment to win us over. Rather, it does its work by simply portraying the challenges, stumbles, and small triumphs of five young teachers* from September to June of their first year. The unobtrusive camerawork embeds us in the homes, classrooms, cars, and lives of these impassioned novices with such great intimacy that it is impossible not to get caught up in the real-life drama that unfolds.

As profoundly as we come to know (and empathize with) the teachers, we also meet a few of their students whose cases are chastening reminders of the realities anyone entering this profession may  face. There is Tyquan Price, a kindergartner who has been referred for speech therapy. In Tyquan's underfunded South Central LA district, not every school has access to a therapist. But what is so maddening to his teacher Maurice is that Tyquan's school actually has one. She is just absent or unavailable much of the time. To make up for this, Maurice works diligently with Tyquan after school. Seeing this young child's face light up as he discovers his own potential to learn is joyful and inspiring. Just as unforgettable is Juan Gonzales, who hails from a motherless East LA family of ten children, an unemployed dad, and a brother in prison. When we first see Juan, he is a moody, disruptive presence in class who is falling behind in school. But rather than write him off, his teacher Nate invests more time and energy to work with Juan, especially in informal after-school activities, such as fishing off a pier or chatting over a burger and fries. It is poignant when Juan graduates and we are left wondering how the rest of his life will turn out.

Tyquan's and Juan's stories, and those of his teachers, are just a hint of what The First Year offers. Without any glib candycoating of the hard work teaching demands, this film should light a flame in the hearts of those thinking about teaching or rekindle the commitment of jaded veterans.

*Georgene Acosta (11th grade, ESL), Genevieve De Bose (6th grade), Joy Kraft (9th grade), Nate Monley (5th grade), and Maurice Rabb (kindergarten)