The official German Oscar entry for Best International Film is an insular, pulse pounding thriller set within the confines of a school that, for cinematic purposes, doubles as a microcosm of society in general circa 2023 where facts don’t matter, misinformation is rampant, suspicions run hot, divisions run deep, racism still rears its ugly head, and no one can be quite sure where, and even if they want to , fit in.
A critical hit beginning at Berlindale, and then winning much talk at Telluride, Toronto, and AFI fests, this fascinating movie is a Blackboard Jungle of a different stripe, but still one that puts a critical finger on our educational institutions by way of the human scope. That it is shot (by cinematographer Judity Kaufmann) in a claustrophobic 4:3 aspect ratio only adds to the tension created by co-writer(with Johannes Duncker) and director Ilker Catak (a past student Academy Award winner), the latter pair incorporating some of their own experiences as school mates, but on a much more dangerous and explosive canvas here.
Carla Nowak is the kind of idealistic teacher arriving to her new school and seventh grade class, eager to make her mark, that we have seen in many movies from To Sir With Love to Up The Down Staircase and countless others. However it isn’t long before trouble shows up in the form of a string of thefts, followed by accusations and investigations, something her idealistic personality wants to keep at bay, but unfortunately pushed agressively by the more veteran teachers including Thomas Liebenwenda (Michael Klammer) and a couple of his colleagues (Sarah Bauerett, Rafael Stachoviak). Forcing student council reps Jenny (Antonia Kuppen) and Lucas (Oscar Zickur) to come clean with a suspect they can charge, the pair finally caves by giving up – randomly – Ali Yilmaz (Can Rodenbotel) which outrages his parents with suspicions of racism even as a search of his wallet revealed a large amount of cash which his parents claim they gave him.
Meetings with the teachers and the not-so-strong principal Bettina Bohm (Anne-Kathrin Gummich) are not satisfactory to Carla who also has noticed some shady happenings in the teacher’s lounge with stuff being pilfered. She secretly decides to uncover the culprit by leaving her wallet and coat behind along with her laptop which she has set up to record any potential theft. It works but we don’t see the face, only clearly a woman’s arm and a very distinct polka dot blouse, one she recognizes as belonging to the Office Manager Ms. Kuhn (a terrific Eva Lobau) who also happens to be the mother of Oskar (Leonard Stettnisch) a prize student Carla has taken a special interest in nurturing. When Ms. Kuhn becomes the accused, she immediately denies it, tempers and tension reach a boiling point, even with the school student newspaper weighing in, and all hell shockingly breaks loose.
Catak knows how to keep us on the edge of our seats with this broken community, and never lets it go out of control, centering it on the hopefulness turned outrage and dismay of Carla as she becomes immersed in this whole sad affair, a vision of where not just German education falls apart, but one that unfortunately is universal.
The Teacher’s Lounge is not to be missed.
Title: The Teacher’s Lounge
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Release Date: December 25, 2023
Director: Ilker Catak
Screenplay: Ilker Catak, Johannes Duncker
Cast: Leonie Benesch, Eva Lobau, Michael Klammer, Leonard Stettnisch, Anne-Kathrin Gummich, Can Rodenbostel, Antonia Kupper, Oscar Zickur, Rafael Stachoviak, Sarah Bauerett
Running Time: 1 hour and 38 minutes
