This essay presents the French educational programme 'Ecole et cinéma' in terms of its guiding principles. By examining the history of its creation, as well as the various levels at which this complex programme operates -- from government agencies to pupils, by way of educators and organizational leadership -- we begin to understand the identification processes and values that the programme advocates, along with the contradictions that situate this rigorous and high-quality programme as a national apparatus that is representative of a certain idea of arts education. But this is not without its own contradictions, which are inextricable from 'Ecole et cinéma', particularly at the present moment. [This article was translated by Madeleine Whittle.]