The Teachers Lounge

Dean Crowe Theatre Athlone

Tuesday 11 February 2025 8pm

Dir: Ilker Çatak - Germany 2023

Language: German with subtitles

Running time: 98 mins Cert: 12A

Starring: Leonie Benesch, Anne-Kathrin Gummich, Rafael Stachowiak

Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) is a newly appointed, very dedicated high school teacher. When one of her students is accused of theft, Carla decides to take the matter into her own hands, setting a trap for the ‘real’ thief. But her actions back fire and things begin to spiral out of control, pushing Carla to her limits. Forced to face the consequences of her own actions, her relationship with her students and colleagues begin to disintegrate.

İlker Çatak misses nothing in his brilliantly observed drama. In his unsparing film, the school becomes a proxy for the cultural and ethical clashes of modern-day society, a microcosm in which the outside world no longer exists and nothing remains private.

Festivals:
Berlin International Film Festival 2023
Toronto International Film Festival 2023
Dublin International Film Festival 2024

Awards:
Winner - Europa Cinemas Label, Ilker Çatak: Berlin International Film Festival 2023
Winner - Best Screenplay, Ilker Çatak: Dublin International Film Festival 2024

Quotes:
​​​​"The Teachers’ Lounge flows very well, and the story is quite effective, leaving viewers intrigued, engaged, and as eager as its protagonist to find the truth and answers to what is happening at the school." - Hanna B, Film Threat,

"It’s an exemplary film that strikes an emotional and thoughtful chord." - Mae Abdulbaki, Screen Rant

"The Teachers’ Lounge starts to feel like a high-stakes thriller, with no need to teach a lesson beyond the limits of do-gooder idealism. The deliciously twisted turns are enough to keep viewers riveted." - Alissa Wilkinson, Vox