(****)

New teachers face certain perils whenever they walk into a classroom. Those dangers are on view in this riveting drama. 

Carla (Leonie Benesch), a Polish immigrant, works in a German junior high school. The principal and her administration are conducting an investigation into a series of thefts. After grilling students, in the most intrusive ways, their findings point toward a Turkish immigrant student who’s in Carla’s class.

Lacking a degree in criminology but not courage, Carla decides to try and entrap the real thief. However, what she uncovers poses problems she could never imagine. She becomes the school’s pariah. Fellow teachers are indignant: “To be honest, I feel rather uncomfortable knowing that a secret video of us was made.” The vitriol she receives from the school secretary Friederike Kuhn (Eva Löbau) and her son Oskar (Leonard Stettnisch) astounds and scares her. She’s also loathed by the school newspaper’s staff. 

Berlin born director Ilker Çatak, in his filmmaking debut, helms this project, co-writes with Johannes Duncker and must be pulling from his background as the son of Turkish Immigrants. His mastery of the subject matter is as superb as his sensitivities to each of the characters. In his hands, accusations, xenophobia and the mistreatment of students becomes incendiary beyond belief. 

Scenes when Oskar offers Carla money to try and solve the problem are tender. Volatile times when the boy assaults her are shocking. Plot piece after plot piece mounts more and more tension. Friction that descends into inconceivable acts that will keep audience’s guessing, for 98-minutes (editor Gesa Jäger), whether the mayhem can ever come to a peaceful conclusion. That’s what superb dramas do. They make you want to find answers. Credit co-screenwriter Johannes Duncker and Çatak for their very thoughtful writing.

Benesch’s naïve kindness as Carla is the direct opposite of the malicious scheming that flows from Löbau and Stettnisch’s characters. The victim/enemy juxtaposition of the teacher, secretary and student is spellbinding. The main cast makes you feel their fear and grievances. The supporting actors underplay their roles in ways that makes it all seem real. Judith Kaufmann’s cinematography stays hidden, like it’s behind every bush, in every desk and lurking in all the hallways. Marvin Miller’s score aptly accentuates the frayed feelings. 

The director, screenwriters, production team and cast turn a small story about a well-intentioned teacher into a modern classroom parable. An amazing achievement. So excellent it should remade into an American movie. 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YgQBGqhTcM

For more information about the Toronto International Film Festival go to https://tiff.net/. 
Visit Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com.