The Teachers’ Lounge

The Teachers’ Lounge (2023) a German drama where Carla, an idealistic new teacher, starts her first job at a high school. When a series of thefts occur she takes it upon herself to sort this out, unwittingly setting off a developing chain reaction of making things much worse. This is an intelligent film about our highly sensitive times, dealing with diversity, cultural stereotypes and how very quickly dialogue can be made impossible even with the best of intentions.

A:   Outstanding! (A)     A+++. So powerful, mind blowing acting, best film of the season so far. (A)  Totally engaging from the first scene, though not a comfortable watch. What a wonderful teacher! A very real film highlighting so many complex and emotional issues.  Incredible acting. One of the best films I’ve ever seen. (A)     Captivating. Edge of my seat. Bravo! (A)  Superb acting, great soundtrack. Unsettling and engrossing. (A)   Why did she do it? (A)  Very compelling but I felt increasingly anxious with the wonderful Mendelssohn at the end! (A)  
Tense, gripping, frightening to see how things can spiral out-of-control (A)   How not to run a school or other organisation. The innocent suffer! (A)  Excellent, and compelling picture of the problems of a wider society……(A)   Believable. All the issues were there…how to proceed? The child actors were terrific – She, Ms Novak, acted impulsively & too fast. But what would I have done? (A)  Very provoking  (A)  Intense and brilliant (A)    A great film (A)    So sad, but an excellent portrayal of unintended consequences. (A)  Brilliant script and acting. (A) Thank goodness for the Mendelssohn at the end- a tough watch.(A)  Gripping. Shows how schools operate as a microcosm of a complex society. (A)

B:   Wonderful acting! The patience & compassion of the teacher was compelling. (B)  You can’t win as a teacher! (B)   Great film and natural acting but her predicament was extremely frustrating! (B) Irritating, persistently infuriating. Beautiful acting (B)    A compelling story convincingly acted, Hinted at the hardships of teaching. (B)

Very good …… until you were left hanging when it finished! (B)   Difficult – well acted by all. (B) Very disturbing and challenging – I wanted someone to support/help the teacher.(B) A chilling reminder of present day parent and pupil power. (B)    Intriguing and suspenseful. (B)   Powerful & potentially, or actually so TRUE (B) 

C:   Well devised (but irritating soundtrack!) (C)    Wonderful music and the rousing Mendelssohn was a great treat (C)     Some good themes but didn’t quite hang together. (C )   Poor Ms Novak, who’d be a teacher? (C)   Challenging but too exaggerated  in some responses – unrealistic. (C)      Inconclusive.(C)    I did not get any closure… but enjoyed it all the same! (C)   A mixture: very unconvincing at times, but sometimes all too convincing. (C)

D:  If my kids were wrote a story that ended like that I’d be fuming!! (D)
The law of unforeseen consequences. Some good acting. (D)            

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