It’s incredibly likely that each and every one of us at some point in our lives as students encountered that one special teacher, the person who made us feel like we were the most valuable and cherished individuals in the world, and whose compassion and empathy made them vital role-models during those early years. Dieter Bachmann is the perfect embodiment of this principle, and through his decades of teaching managed to change the lives of many of the students who passed through his classroom – and despite being a hero to many, he has resided in relative obscurity, since most teachers tend to do some of the most important work, but remain entirely unknown by virtue of their career. However, this is no longer the case for this particular teacher, as he is the central subject of Mr. Bachmann and His Class (German: Herr Bachmann und seine Klasse), an achingly beautiful, occasionally funny and deeply moving documentary that looks at a few months in the life of Bachmann and his group of young students over the course of a school year. Documentarian Maria Speth and her crew spend their time meticulously capturing this classroom environment, carefully recording conversations and lessons, which they piece together to form a riveting and affecting glimpse into the life of a man who has dedicated his life to a profession that may not always be recognized (particularly from a western standpoint), but is the one that makes all other professions possible. Gorgeously made, immersive and absolutely unforgettable, Speth tells a simple but effective story about education, done from the perspective of a man whose immense passion for his work makes him a truly worthy subject for this cinematic love letter to the myriad of teachers who are dedicated to changing lives and nourishing the souls of the younger generation.

In absolutely no uncertain terms, Mr. Bachmann and His Class is an absolute masterpiece, a deep and moving document of the art of teaching, both in terms of the people who dedicate their lives to this line of work, and the multitudes of young minds that pass through these classrooms, being given the opportunity to sample from the endless wisdom of their educators. This film looks at both titular subjects, oscillating between Bachmann, whose grizzled but relaxed demeanour would not immediately evoke the image of the ideal teacher in the viewer’s mind (one of the first instances of this film subverting expectations), and the students that occupy his class – most of them are not from Germany, being the children of immigrants or newly-minted residents in Germany themselves. The contrast between the two is obvious but nonetheless fascinating – Mr. Bachmann has been teaching for decades, and worked with hundreds of students over the course of his career, while these children have undoubtedly been in the presence of numerous teachers throughout their young lives, some of them being better than others for the most part. Yet, the relationship depicted in this film is far more special – the heartfulness presented in the student-teacher dynamic is extremely potent, the entire film being built on the efforts of Bachmann to forge meaningful connections with each one of his students, looking beyond the fact that there are so many of them that require his attention, and instead focusing in building lasting friendships with them, getting to know each one of them as individuals, rather than a homogenous group, which is often a major criticism many students have when it comes to teachers who supposedly don’t realize that not every child is on the same level, with each of them having different needs and demands to ensure their education gives them everything they required for the future.

Throughout the film, we are given insights into Bachmann’s methods employed to ensure every student feels like they have a place at the proverbial (and sometimes literal) table – and while they appear simple on the surface, they’re much more complex when we take a closer look, and see how his efforts are far more interesting than we’d expect. Every person, regardless of background, will have a different definition of what constitutes a “good” teacher from a “bad” one, but there are certain elements that are universal – compassion, wisdom and kindness are always regularly cited as signs of a strong educator, as well as an active desire to nurture the growing minds of their students, and the ability to form a connection with each one of them, making them feel as if they are in a safe, stimulating environment where they can be themselves. Mr. Bachmann and His Class is fascinating considering this focuses on a teacher charged with students at arguably their most important stage, the years just before they enter into high school, where their journey to adulthood really begins. These are children who are young enough to crave distraction and fun, but old enough to understand the reality of the world around them – and considering how most of them are children of immigrants, the film pays careful attention to portraying their different experiences with an issue that continues to be a prevalent source of contentious discussion. It’s undeniable that Bachmann is a great teacher, so much that the film doesn’t ever need to frame him as a saint – there is a distinct lack of over-the-top, saccharine moments of “Oh captain, my captain” inspiration that we normally find in films centred on teachers who change the lives of their students. Instead, we are given a vivid and insightful glimpse into the relationship between one educator and a small sample of the students with whom he worked over his long career in teaching.

Speth implicitly understood the assignment when it came to venturing into Mr. Bachmman’s classroom, refusing to make a slight and inconsequential documentary about this teacher, but rather a deeply nuanced exploration of several months in his career as he shepherds a group of children across the school year. At a staggering 217-minutes, Mr. Bachmann and His Class has many opportunities to go into detail – and while some may be intimidated by the length of the film, the actual experience is so immersive, we don’t even notice the exorbitant running time. Taking an approach that prioritizes allowing conversation to occur naturally was the most beneficial method the director could’ve used, since there is so much detail contained in the meaningful discussions conducted by the teacher and his students. They’re punctuated by many more quiet moments that are even more emotionally resonant, such as numerous scenes of quiet reading, or the heartfelt musical performances that are amongst the most heartwarming scenes of the past year. Mr. Bachmann and His Class stands out as a very different kind of ode to teachers, since it demonstrates the simple fact that life isn’t always about the destination, but rather it’s the journey that means the most. Bachmann undergoes an annual voyage with a new group of students, committing everything he has to fostering their curiosity and nutrifying both their minds and souls – and year after year, he brings the same amount of dedication to the process. The difference here is that Bachmann is not afraid to show that he doesn’t know everything – despite his years of teaching giving him decades of experience, he maintains that we never stop learning, and as clichéd as it would appear, this film shows that a strong student-teacher relationship is a two-way street, the children teaching Mr. Bachmann just as much as he educates them, a concept that is so beautifully conveyed in the genuine, earnest conversations he has with his class throughout this film, Speth capturing each moment in such vivid and extraordinary detail.

Despite the length being something of a deterrent, Mr. Bachmann and His Class is a truly captivating film that effortlessly places into this world, acting as passive observers peering into this classroom, watching as these individuals grow, learning numerous lessons every day, while being stimulated by a teacher whose approach to education is somewhat unconventional, but makes an enormous impact on the growing minds of these students, which Speth generously captures to share with the rest of the world. Taking place during arguably their most important stage in development, as they transition into a more self-aware and introspective period of their lives, the film gives us access into this environment, which is filled with laughter, tears and spirited discussion, all facilitated by a man with a true passion for the art of teaching. Mr. Bachmann and His Class is not the first film to focus on the trials and tribulations of a teacher and the students he inspires, but it is one of the most honest and insightful, rejecting sensationalism in favour of a more simple depiction of the growing relationship between a teacher and his students. Dieter Bachmann is an inspiration – he may not be a perfect teacher (such an individual does not exist), but his years of experience have taught him how to approach education in a way that prioritizes the student, each one of the children that is placed in his care emerging as a more developed, complex person at the end of their time together. It’s people like Mr. Bachmann who prove that the teaching profession is beyond important – without such dedicated individuals being tasked with ushering young, impressionable minds into the real world, the world would be at a genuine disadvantage. Beautifully made, incredibly immersive and made with the endless candour that is reserved for only the finest works of non-fiction filmmaking, Mr. Bachmann and His Class is a profoundly moving film, and one that never fails to inspire with the seemingly infinite compassion of its subject, whose efforts to change lives is beyond admirable.