The Equation

''The Equation'' (French: ''L'équation'') is a 2012 French short drama film written and directed by Mathieu Hippeau.^[1] The 15-minute film stars Mathieu Bisson as Serge, a young mathematics teacher at a high school in a disadvantaged urban area, who attempts to guide his students through solving an equation but is interrupted by a troubling phone call.^[2] Supporting cast includes Sofia Lassoued, Dylan Imayanga, and Pamela Barraud.^[3] The film explores themes of education and personal disruption in an inner-city school setting. It premiered in 2012 and has an IMDb user rating of 5.4/10 based on over 50 votes as of 2025.^[4]

Background and Development

Concept and Writing

The concept of The Equation revolves around a mathematics teacher in a suburban French school who strives to guide his students through solving a mathematical equation, only to be disrupted by a personal phone call that underscores his emotional distress. This setup employs the equation as a symbolic device to explore the teacher's internal conflict between his pedagogical role and private turmoil, set against the backdrop of an underprivileged educational environment. The film's premise emphasizes the tension in everyday classroom interactions, where intellectual challenges mirror unresolved personal issues.^[1]^[2] Written and directed by Mathieu Hippeau, the script originated from his background as a former teacher in vocational high schools following his studies in literature, providing authentic insight into the dynamics of teaching in challenging socioeconomic contexts. Completed in 2012, the screenplay captures the raw immediacy of a single classroom scene, focusing on the protagonist's vulnerability amid student interactions. Hippeau's solo writing approach integrated realistic depictions of educational hurdles, drawing on his firsthand experiences to ground the narrative in relatable professional realities without venturing into broader plot exposition.^[5]

Pre-Production and Casting

The pre-production phase of The Equation, a low-budget independent short film, was managed by Sedna Films, which provided primary funding along with participation from France 2, Région Poitou-Charentes, and Conseil Général de Charente-Maritime to support a streamlined operation. This funding enabled a minimal crew of approximately 25 members and a filming period of 6 days. The film's director, Mathieu Hippeau, emphasized efficiency in interviews, noting that the modest financing allowed for creative focus without compromising the intimate classroom setting central to the story.^[6]^[7] Casting occurred in 2011-2012, with the lead role of Serge, the math teacher, filled by Mathieu Bisson after auditions that prioritized actors capable of portraying subtle emotional distress amid everyday professional demands. Supporting roles for the students were sourced from local theater groups in the Charente-Maritime region, enabling authentic performances from non-professional actors who brought a natural energy to the ensemble scenes. This approach kept costs low while ensuring cultural and linguistic accuracy for the French suburban school environment. Pre-production spanned several months leading up to 2012, involving extensive location scouting in the Charente-Maritime region, including Lagord, to secure permissions for filming in realistic educational spaces. Rehearsals during this period concentrated on refining authentic dialogue delivery, with actors practicing improvisational elements to heighten the tension of classroom interactions. The script's mathematical theme briefly influenced prop design, particularly in crafting chalkboard equations that served as both educational tools and visual motifs.^[8] Key crew hires included a cinematographer selected for expertise in handheld camerawork, which was intended to capture the raw tension of the classroom dynamics without intrusive setups. Additionally, the sound designer was brought on to emphasize audio effects, such as amplifying the intrusive phone call that disrupts the narrative, using subtle layering to enhance emotional impact within the film's tight sound budget.

Narrative and Themes

Plot Summary

The 2012 short film opens in a classroom at a suburban middle school (collège), where Serge, a dedicated young mathematics teacher, stands before a group of disinterested students and writes a complex equation on the chalkboard as the central focus of the lesson.^[9] The students, visibly unengaged with the subject, fidget and chat among themselves, highlighting the challenges of teaching in this banlieue environment.^[10] As the lesson unfolds, Serge patiently explains the steps to solve the equation, but the students' struggles become evident through their hesitant responses and failed attempts at the board. One student in particular, Karima—a confident but mathematically challenged "smart aleck"—interacts disruptively at first, mocking the problem before surprisingly offering a solution that engages the class.^[9]^[11] These interactions build tension amid the routine classroom dynamics.^[12] The rising action intensifies when Serge steps aside to answer a disturbing phone call.^[9] Returning to the front, he presses on with the lesson, guiding the students through further attempts at the equation. In the climax, Karima's unexpected solution creates emotional chaos in the class.^[11] The narrative concludes with the classroom scene, emphasizing the intersection of personal distraction and educational challenges.^[11]

Themes and Analysis

The film explores challenges in education, particularly in French banlieues, where teachers struggle with student engagement amid cultural and socioeconomic barriers.^[2]^[13] Serge's interactions with his students reflect broader issues in inner-city schooling, highlighting detachment and communication breakdowns.^[2]^[13] The narrative critiques the difficulties of public schooling in engaging students effectively, an issue prominent in France's disadvantaged communities. In 2012, approximately 100,000 students dropped out of secondary school annually, with higher rates in banlieue areas due to inadequate support and engagement strategies, contributing to persistent educational inequalities.^[14]^[15] This context amplifies the film's portrayal of Serge's efforts to connect through mathematics, illustrating systemic shortcomings in motivating at-risk youth. Director Mathieu Hippeau's minimalist style heightens the emotional weight of the story, relying on sparse dialogue and tight framing to convey tension.^[2]^[1] In the phone call scene, the deliberate pacing builds unease, underscoring the fragility of composure under pressure. This approach amplifies the intimate scale of personal and professional conflict.^[2]^[1]

Release and Reception

Distribution and Ratings

The Equation was released in 2012 and screened at various international film festivals, including the Mediawave International Short Film Festival in 2013 and the Festival du Film Court en Plein Air in 2014.^[16]^[17] The film's distribution was managed by Sedna Films, which handled European festival circuits.^[2] It became available online through platforms like Unifrance for professional access. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has no aggregated critic score as of 2025.^[18] IMDb user ratings stand at 5.4/10 from 51 votes as of November 2025.^[1]

Critical Reviews

Upon its 2012 release, The Equation received limited critical attention as a short film. User reviews on platforms like Letterboxd and SensCritique describe it as an average drama exploring a teacher's personal struggles, with average ratings around 5/10.^[19]^[20] The film has been noted for its portrayal of educator stress in a classroom setting, though specific professional reviews are scarce. In aggregated user views, The Equation is seen as a modest entry in the short film genre, blending realism with psychological elements.