THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE on Netflix is a Psychological Thriller from Germany (org. title: Das Lehrerzimmer). It was the official submission for an Oscar – and it’s easy to understand why. The intensity is relentless. Read our full The Teachers’ Lounge movie review here!
THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE is now on Netflix in the US. The movie is described as a dramatic thriller or a psychological thriller. Both are appropriate for this German movie (org. title: Das Lehrerzimmer) which has you on the edge of your seat throughout.
Much like in Pihu, it’s all those unknown factors that play with your mind. You’re watching an accident unfold and you’re not sure how bad it will get, but you do know it can’t turn out well. Also, it feels extremely organic and realistic because it’s based on actual experiences.
Continue reading our The Teachers’ Lounge movie review below. Find it on Netflix in the US from July 17, 2024.
The struggles of an amazing teacher
In The Teachers’ Lounge, we meet and follow the young teacher Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) as she works with the kids in her class. She is clearly a beloved teacher, who has a good grip on the class, and an eye for what each child needs.
Also, she tends to always take the side of the children first. Constantly wanting to resolve things with and for the children rather than putting them in awkward situations.
It all starts going downhill when two kids in her class are forced to name a fellow student in a suspected stealing incident. Next, the accused child is confronted alongside his parents, which does not turn out well either.
Trying to set things right
Carla, never believing in any of these efforts (nor the guilt of the boy), tries a little experiment. She leaves her wallet (having counted the cash in it) unattended in the teachers’ lounge and films it via her laptop. When she returns, some cash is missing and she has a recording of the thief.
Well, to a point. She can see the shirt the thief is wearing and it is quite unique, so she confronts the person. From then on, it all starts going downhill and a psychological battle ensues.
First between Carla and the accused thief, then a child in her classroom (for reasons I won’t reveal here), and then her entire class, before it spreads to the school at large.
Carla Nowak has always stood out due to her idealism and faith in her students, but it’s all being challenged. Trying to mediate between outraged parents, opinionated colleagues, and even very aggressive students, she is constantly confronted with the structures of the school system.
The more she tries to do right by the students, the more it threatens to break her. It’s the snowball effect and slow-motion trainwreck evolution that you cannot stop looking at.
Watch The Teachers’ Lounge on Netflix now!
The director of The Teachers’ Lounge (org. title: Das Lehrerzimmer) is Ilker Çatak who also co-wrote the screenplay with Johannes Dunckers. In fact, the movie is based on personal experiences they both had at the same school.
Ilker Çatak and co-writer Johannes Dunckers have created a slice of life that stays with you. Well, with me anyway. I can imagine anyone with kids in school or who’s working at a school can relate very easily. Even just anyone who still remembers the middle school environment.
It can get wild so very fast. For this movie, not only is Leonie Benesch (The Swarm, Babylon Berlin) perfect as the teacher Carla, but the young student Oskar is also portrayed impressively by newcomer Leonard Stettnisch. I hope to see him again soon in more productions.
The Teachers’ Lounge was Germany’s official submission for an Oscar in the “Best International Feature Film” category. Understandably so, because the intensity is brutal and the realism of the events unfolding is relentless.
The Teachers’ Lounge is on Netflix in the US from July 19, 2024.
Details
Director: Ilker Çatak
Screenwriters: Ilker Çatak, Johannes Duncker
Stars: Leonie Benesch, Leonard Stettnisch, Anne-Kathrin Gummich, Rafael Stachowiak, Michael Klammer, Eva Löbau
Plot
When one of her students is suspected of theft, a dedicated teacher decides to investigate, trapping herself between her ideals and the school system.
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