The Class is a French drama directed by Laurent Cantet, adapted from François Bégaudeau's 2006 novel of the same name. The film follows a French language teacher navigating life in a diverse middle school classroom in Paris's 20th arrondissement. It stars Bégaudeau himself as the protagonist teacher. The picture achieved critical and commercial success, winning the Palme d'Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival—making it the first French film to win unanimously since Maurice Pialat's work in 1987. Though nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, it lost to Departures.