1 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Released 12 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Once in a Lifetime
"Based on a true story"
2014 1h 45m FR
👍
7.4
SOLID
★7.4TMDB · 331
Drama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
At Léon Blum High School in Créteil, France, a history teacher decides to have her weakest 10th grade class participate in a national history competition.
“Based on a true story”
Cast
Ariane Ascaride
Anne Gueguen
Ahmed Dramé
Malik
Noémie Merlant
Mélanie
Geneviève Mnich
Yvette Thomas
Stéphane Bak
Max
Wendy Nieto
Jamila
Aïmen Derriachi
Saïd
Mohamed Seddiki
Olivier / Brahim
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar
- Writers
- Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, Ahmed Dramé
- Languages
- French, Italian
- Countries
- France
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, Italian.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Directed by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, shot by Myriam Vinocour. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Ludovico Einaudi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Benoît Quinon shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Ariane Ascaride and Ahmed Dramé and Noémie Merlant carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Based on a true story".
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt3289126 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar directs. Myriam Vinocour behind the camera. Ludovico Einaudi scores. Benoît Quinon cuts. Produced in France. Dialogue in French, Italian.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Released 12 years ago.
- 2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, Italian.
- 3Directed by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, shot by Myriam Vinocour. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 4Original score by Ludovico Einaudi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 5Editor Benoît Quinon shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 6Ariane Ascaride and Ahmed Dramé and Noémie Merlant carry the top of the cast.
- 7Marketing tagline: "Based on a true story".
- 8IMDB entry: tt3289126 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Myriam Vinocour
- Original score
- Ludovico Einaudi
- Editing
- Benoît Quinon
- Production design
- Anne-Charlotte Vimont
- Costume design
- Isabelle Mathieu
- Makeup / hair
- Valérie Théry-Hamel
- VFX supervisor
- Stéphane Bidault
- Sound
- Christophe Vingtrinier
- Runtime
- 105 min · 1h 45m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- FR
Also by
Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- LO
Loma Nasha
Key crew
- Script SupervisorJoëlle Hersant
- Sound EditorÉlisabeth Paquotte
- Production DesignAnne-Charlotte Vimont
- Sound MixerDominique Levert
- First Assistant DirectorZazie Carcedo
- Costume DesignIsabelle Mathieu
- CastingChristophe Istier
- Sound Re-Recording MixerChristophe Vingtrinier
- CastingMarie-France Michel
- Key Makeup ArtistValérie Théry-Hamel
- Second Assistant DirectorChristian Sonderegger
- Visual Effects SupervisorStéphane Bidault
- ProducerMarie-Castille Mention-Schaar
- ProducerPierre Kubel
- EditorBenoît Quinon
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- woman director
Release history · US
When it landed
- Premiere2015-04-13· Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival
- Theatrical2016-10-21
