The Class Wins at Cannes

The drama about a junior high school class using real students and real teachers, won the highest honor, Palme d'Or, at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The last French film to win the honor was Under Satan's Sun, in 1987.

The Class is based on an autobiographic novel by Francois Begaudeau and was praised for its portrayal of what really happens in the classroom between the teachers and the students, as well as the pressures they face, said Reuters. "The film we wanted to make had to be a reflection of French society - multiple, many-faceted, complex," said the director, Laurent Cantet, on stage, joined by his cast of teenage actors.

The drama was shot in a raw, improvisational style to chronicle the drama that unfolds over one school year, reported the Associated Press. The decision was unanimous within the nine-member Cannes Jury, said Sean Penn, who headed the panel.

Italian films took the second-place grand prize and third-place jury prize. Benicio Del Toro won best actor with his portrayal of Che Guevara in the two part epic, Che, which chronicles the life of the revolutionary. Sandra Corveloni was chosen as best actress for Linha de Passe, where she is the mother of four brothers trying to make better lives for themselves in a Brazilian slum.