BY MANSI. M, Toronto: The Teacher’s Lounge, a thriller, was presented at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The story revolves around a teacher, Carla (Leonie Benesch), who comes to teach at a German school only to get caught in a web of issues around recent thefts. She does not agree with the procedure of finding the thief that the teachers carry out and tries to shield the students. The 98 minute film directed by German filmmaker llker Catak slowly builds from one scene to the next, and makes Carla the focus of attention as she deals with both the students and the teachers. The film touches on many topics including racism, authority, rebellion, and alienation. Although her intentions are good, her credibility is at stake.
The interesting part of the film is that there are no victims, and nobody backs down from their own defense. Denial is the crux of the film, making it interesting to the viewers through and through. The film is from the perspective of the teachers, giving viewers the opportunity to see how they are affected in certain situations. Students also play a vital role in the pressure they can feel from authority even if they have the choice to say no.
“Denial is the crux of the film,” says Catak.
The film makes the viewers think about how the main character, Carla, is affected by all the factors in the play. The build up from one scene to the next is beautifully created. It shows that democracy can only be created when someone bleeds for it and resists something that was bigger than them.
This film is certainly worth watching as many layers of the film come together to create the end result.
