The Teachers’ Lounge
A movie review by Alex First
A diligent young teacher is caught up in a seemingly never-ending downward spiral of bad practices at a school.
Try as she does, whichever way she manoeuvres seems to make matters worse.
Her name is Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) and it is her first job at a German school.
She teaches 12-year-olds (they are sixth graders) and cares a great deal.
At the start of the picture, she finds herself in a very awkward position.
Decidedly uncomfortable, she watches on as two young class representatives are leant upon to give up the name of a fellow student accused of stealing.
An untenable situation will have far-reaching consequences.
The thefts continue and Ms Nowak uses her wiles to set up a scenario in the teachers’ lounge, in which she believes she can ferret out the culprit.
That is regardless of video proof.
In fact, she denies any wrongdoing, while Ms Nowak is accused of breaching privacy.
This is far from the end of the matter, as colleagues turn on one another and Ms Nowak’s best student happens to be the administrator’s son.
He naturally defends his mother and starts to act up.
The class is up in arms. The student body and parents turn the blowtorch on Ms Nowak.
I love the moral quandary at the heart of The Teacher’s Lounge and the thought-provoking screenplay crafted by director Ilker Catak and Johannes Duncker.
The film, complete with nerve-jangling music, has all the hallmarks of a taut thriller in an educational setting, with twists and revelations aplenty.
It is distinguished by a series of naturalistic performances, with none better than Leonie Benesch in the lead.
Attempting to maintain a positive disposition becomes increasingly difficult for Ms Nowak and it is written all over Benesch’s face.
Showing laudable restraint, she still manages to wear her heart on her sleeve in a truly great showing.
I also appreciated the juxtaposition of officialdom in the state the school finds itself and the catty nature of the teachers.
The machinations of the student body add a further riveting dimension, while cultural sensibilities are also in play.
The Teachers’ Lounge is undoubtedly one of this year’s best offerings. Not for naught was it an Oscar nominee for Best International Picture.
Rated M, it scores a 9 out of 10. 98 minutes.
