The Teachers' LoungeThe Teachers' Lounge
(2023)
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The Teachers' Lounge

Teacher Carla Nowak investigates student theft, facing moral dilemmas and school system conflicts.

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Why watch this film?

The Teachers' Lounge, a German drama nominated for the Best International Film Oscar, begins with a question hanging in the air: who is stealing money and objects from teachers within the school? When substitute teacher Carla (Leonie Benesch) begins to believe she has uncovered the thief's identity, things start to go awry. The accused person becomes desperate, their son—who happens to be in Carla's class—finds himself in a struggle against the teacher, and things spiral out of control. Although there's a strong moralistic tone surrounding The Teachers' Room, the film succeeds in addressing stark discrepancies between the school world and the real one; education at home and at school; common justice and the justice that exists in the classrooms and desks of the school. With skill, director Ilker Çatak plays with character meanings and social landmarks, questioning the limits of people and, most importantly, these social dichotomies that distort reality.

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Plot summary

Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) is a dedicated, idealistic young teacher in her first job at a middle school. Her relaxed rapport with her seventh-grade students is put under stress when a series of thefts occur at the school, and a staff investigation leads to accusations and mistrust among outraged parents, opinionated colleagues, and an enigmatic student. Caught in the middle of these complex dynamics, the more Carla tries to do everything right, the more desperate her position becomes.

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