The Teachers' Lounge

A series of thefts set forth tensions that spiral out of control in this Academy Award-nominated workplace thriller.

Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) is a dedicated and idealistic, young teacher in her first job at a German school. Her relationship with her seventh-grade students is put under escalating stress when a series of thefts occur, and a staff investigation leads to accusations and mistrust among outraged parents, opinionated colleagues and angry students. Caught in the middle of these complex dynamics, Carla tries to mediate, but the more she tries to do everything right, the closer she gets to breaking point.

Curator's Note

İlker Çatak's gripping workplace thriller is a stunning reminder that extraordinary events in our ordinary lives can be fodder for the thriller subgenre. There are no guns, explosions or elaborate car chases here. Escalating tensions are felt through articulate performances and stress levels that build visibly to high viscosity.

The Teachers' Lounge premiered at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival and received an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature Film.

– Reece Goodwin, Curator (Film & TV)