131. The Teachers' Lounge (Das Lehrerzimmer); movie review

 

THE TEACHERS' LOUNGE (DAS LEHRERZIMMER)

Cert 12A

99 mins

BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language, brief drug references

When we were young, teachers controlled classes with an array of implements, including slippers, rulers, canes, bits of chalk, board rubbers and even a cricket bat.

And, obviously, there was the more conventional clip around the ear.

Teachers didn't concern themselves with what was fair and would have been unrepentant if their victims had been unjustifiably punished.

The first time I witnessed a liberal attitude towards pupils was during a school exchange to Germany.

Corporal punishment was not allowed in the school we visited, and it was the first time I had ever seen pupils not wearing uniforms.

While the atmosphere in British schools is unrecognisable from the past, Germany offers more freedom to pupils.

However, Ilker Çatak's The Teacher's Lounge presents a relatable struggle with its push-me, pull-you between staff trying to keep control of their classes.

It centres on a young female teacher (Leonie Benesch) who struggles to control a class because the students see her as weak.

That does not stop her from siding with the class representatives who are pressured by her colleagues to tell tales about their classmates.

Then, a pivotal incident ignites a fierce conflict among the teachers, a situation so intricate that it draws the students into the fray.

Writing more would give away the plot, whose power depends on intricate details.

The Teacher's Lounge is elevated by the exceptional performances of the young actors, who shine alongside the brilliant Leonie Benesch and the excellent Anne-Kathrin Gummich, portraying the school's head teacher.

Its storyline may stretch credibility a tad, but it prompts so many diverse conversations about how a school should be run and how discipline should be carried out.

A riveting drama that I highly recommend.

Reasons to watch: Riveting drama

Reasons to avoid: Stretches credibility

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None 

Overall rating: 8.5/10

Did you know? German students study at school 5 days a week, from Monday to Friday. Lessons for students will usually start from 8.00 am but they get to finish between 1.00-2.00pm.

The final word. İlker Çatak: "The secret to working with children is to treat them like colleagues. I told them in the very beginning that I'm not their boss, but we're colleagues. And I expect them to have work ethics, to know their lines, to go to sleep early, to be a professional. I talked to them, and I showed my own vulnerabilities." A.Frame

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