Kids in Montreal’s Iraqi community learn about overcoming adversity with family movie event

Dozens of kids and their parents gathered at the Centre des loisirs de Saint-Laurent Saturday afternoon to watch an educational movie.

The event was organized by the Iraqi Canadian Society in Montreal.

The kids watched “Front of the Class,” a 2008 movie about a young man, Brad Cohen, with Tourette’s Syndrome who dreams of being a schoolteacher.

Cohen overcomes obstacles to achieve his goal with the help of his mother and school principal.

The family movie, which was based on a true story that first inspired a book of the same name, was directed by Peter Werner and stars James Wolk, Treat Williams and Patricia Heaton.

The Iraqi Canadian Society in Montreal chose that film for its important moral messages and for teaching values of self-confidence, patience, courage and humility.

After the film, the kids took part in a question-and-answer session led by Dr. Arwa Al-Yasiri to fully explain and analyze the movie.

They explored the lessons learned, what they liked about the movie and how they could implement some of its teachings into their own lives.

—With files from Hayder Mahdy

WATCH: Trailer for “Front of the Class”