Mr. Bachmann and His Class: the word “hero” is overused, especially in the context of sporting events; one context where it’s not overused (and at least it is used, in the first place) is education, and the subject of Maria Speth’s lovely documentary is one evidence. Mr. Bachmann is a sensitive and caring educator, energetic to the perfect degree, who seems to be genuinely invested in the well-being of his pupils, and he certainly doesn’t see himself as a hero; the open relationship he has with them allows this doc to patiently and intently observe the dynamics of the group. This is an observational documentary, without direct interaction beyond the simple fact that there is an observer and a group of subjects. The film is particularly powerful because the kids are all immigrants with diverse backgrounds, many with limited knowledge of the German language, and in need of a safe place where they can discover themselves in such a critical moment of their lives. The filmmakers have exceptional access to the routine, in and out of school, and cinematographer Reinhold Vorschneider’s camera seems to always be in the right place to observe something interesting. That is also the fruit of the labors of Maria Speth as she edits the footage; the runtime may seem too long, but every single step of this journey is engaging and elucidating. It’s easy to understand the film’s final shot; alas, all journeys must end (or move on to another phase).