THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE (DAS LEHRERZIMMER) World Cinema

Germany’s Oscar^® submission for Best International Feature

Screening to be followed by a conversation with director Ilker Çatak.

Idealistic young teacher Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) relishes her work, teaching both math and physical education to her class of seventh graders. Unfortunately, disciplinary issues are also part of the job, and a recent spate of thefts has both teachers and students on edge. Uncomfortable with the tactics used by her fellow teachers to pressure some students into accusing another of being the thief – not least because it is unclear that the accused is truly guilty – Ms. Nowak continues to seek out the true culprit on her own. A simple trap of unattended money and a web camera appears to catch the real thief, but it’s a fellow staff member in the teachers’ lounge. When Ms. Nowak attempts to take matters into her own hands and settle the matter quietly, she instead unleashes calamitous, unexpected results with far-reaching consequences. İlker Çatak’s sly allegory and Germany’s official selection for the 2024 Oscars® masterfully evokes the slightly strange world of a school – seemingly a world unto itself, yet entirely an extension of the society that made it – and deftly deploys the occasional surreal touch to reflect the anxiety and absurdity experienced by its characters. –Todd Hitchcock