Le Petit prof (1959)
Directed by Carlo Rim

Film Synopsis

Jérôme Aubin is one of life's natural optimists.  He was 15 when France was under Nazi occupation and not even this momentous event could diminish his cheery outlook.  For him, the war years were a happy time, full of fun and adventure, and adulthood presented no fears for him when he finally said farewell to his adolescence.  He soon found himself a devoted wife in Françoise, a nice girl he had known since the age of eight, and he could not be happier with his calling as a school teacher.  Admittedly, his first few days in front of the blackboard were a little daunting, particularly as the children he was required to teach had a reputation for rowdiness.  But, as ever, Jérôme's unwavering optimism managed to see him through this mild trauma.  Dispensing with conventional teaching methods, he has found his own way of communicating with his pupils, one that seems to be remarkably effective.  Unfortunately, those fuddy-duddies running his school are not impressed with his methods and question whether he is up to the job.  The school inspector is finally called in to make an assessment of Jérôme's suitability to be a teacher...