85. HALF NELSON
 
United States
dir. Ryan Fleck (& Anna Boden)
world premiere 2006
U.S. release 2006
 

 
Because the story, the look, the editing, and the splendid performances, especially but not only from Ryan Gosling, confound all those generic teacher-student dramas that never catch anything close to the pulse of a real classroom. Still, the film doesn't come across as a contrarian gesture, but as an honest, incisive study of character.