The Teachers' Lounge
The Teachers' Lounge
When one of her students is suspected of theft, teacher Carla Nowak decides to get to the bottom of the matter. Caught between her ideals and the school system, the consequences of her actions threaten to break her.
Kevin Ward reviewedJuly 2, 2025
Ethical dilemmas and moral ambiguity abound in this surprisingly tense drama that sees a teacher’s work life unexpectedly take a downward spiral after she attempts to vindicate one of her students who has been accused of stealing. I have to credit @seemonster for putting this film on my radar several months ago, because I might not have seen it otherwise. I loved this though. Leonie Benesch is excellent as the teacher, Carla Nowak, who remains steadfast in her attempts to advocate for her students even when the tables are turned against her. So much to explore here regarding the consequences that accusations can have on both the accused and the accuser. It’s pretty fascinating how little the factual truth plays into the drama here as Carla’s ethics are challenged on multiple fronts. Highly recommend.