A Real Job

Benjamin, a PhD student without scholarship, is pressed by his family to secure a stable future while he struggles to finish his studies. In need of money, he takes a temporary job as a substitute teacher at a middle school. He starts with little training and no classroom experience, stepping into a system strained by political cuts and shifting priorities. The job is tougher than he anticipated: unruly corridors, anxious parents, and a classroom that resists conventional approaches. Yet, as he spends days with diverse students and witnesses his colleagues' stubborn commitment, he begins to see education from inside the messy, human side of it. The film threads humor with realism, inviting viewers to rethink what teaching really asks of people.

Directed by Thomas Lilti, A Real Job is built from his own screenplay rather than adapting another work. Released in 2023, it stays close to contemporary French education life and features Vincent Lacoste as Benjamin alongside a strong supporting cast.

Worldwide box office totals about 3.45 million dollars, a modest result given the 8.2 million budget and its art house profile. It found audiences primarily in France and select European markets.

Critics note the film balances humor with a candid look at the pressures on public schools. It centers on teamwork among teachers and mentors, highlighting resilience, professional pride, and the small wins that keep instructional hopes alive. Its tone blends warmth with realism, inviting reflection on education as community work.