Following its premiere at Berlinale 2023, drama film The Teachers’ Lounge is distributed by Alamode Film. After a series of petty thefts at a school and the possible leads failing to result in the culprit being apprehended, teacher Carla (Leonie Benesch) does a secret recording in the teacher’s lounge. The recording captures the arm of a woman wearing a distinct blouse stealing money from Carla’s wallet but not her face. Administrator Friedericke Kuhn (Eva Löbau) becomes the prime suspect due to wearing a similar blouse, but strenuously denies the allegations. A devastated Kuhn is put on leave whilst the subsequent investigation gets underway, but her son Oskar (Leonard Stettnisch), who is in Carla’s class is relentlessly bullied by his peers and chooses to fight back against his classmates and antagonise Carla.
PROS
- A compelling screenplay by Johannes Duncker, who provides striking considerations of institutionalised prejudice and racial profiling, a moving portrait of the wider emotional impact that allegations can have, and he also cleverly uses the setting to explore how even tight-knit communities can be destabilised by a single incident.
- Excellent direction from İlker Çatak, who takes a slow-burn approach to the serious subject-matter and compelling themes, giving the film the suspense of a clever legal thriller, and ensures that the whole narrative is character-driven, the main focus being upon how the events impact Carla and Oskar’s emotional wellbeing.
- A unanimously strong cast, with all of the young cast members giving naturalistic performances, but none more so than Leonard Stettnisch, who brings intense emotional to Oskar, conveying powerfully the emotional toll that the events have on the boy. Additionally, Leonie Benesch is a wonderful lead, giving a remarkably nuanced performance in which she conveys the complexities of Carla’s thoughts and emotions through the subtleties of her expressions and body language.
CONS
- An early consideration of institutionalised prejudice is not followed through on with any substantial depth or weight, despite a promising establishment, which feels like a missed opportunity.
- A farcical climax ends quite abruptly, without resolution to the main plot, and with some loose loose threads, including potential repercussions for Carla’s recording, the legality of which is in serious question.
VERDICT: 8/10
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