PRIX EUROPA            
Best Television Fiction  Programme of the Year 2009

Skirt Day / La Journée de la Jupe
ARTE France, France;
by: Jean-Paul Lilienfeld (author/director), Pascal Rabaud (camera), Benedicte Lesage and Ariel Askenazi (producer);
produced for Arte by Mascaret Films,
co-producer, Fontana, RTBF, Belgium

Synopsis
Sonia Bergerac is a French teacher in a “rough” high school. She wears skirts to school even though the Principal advises against it. Sonia Bergerac can’t tolerate being treated like a whore. She simply wants to teach her class and is afraid. Sonia Bergerac has found a weapon in one of her student’s bags. She has just taken her class hostage.

Citation by the Jury
"This black comedy presents a series of surprising twists and turns, finally leading to a dramatic climax. The story deals with an important issue in our society, namely, the mix of different cultures through several generations.

A well-written script, great performances, inventive direction and high production values make it a most entertaining film about a teacher in a high-school. But this is no ordinary teacher and this is no ordinary school. When tensions and frustrations build up, teacher Sonia Bergerac (starring Isabelle Adjani in disguise) and her pupils loose control and - in turn - take each other hostage."