‘The Teachers’ Lounge’, nominated for Oscars 2024 leaves audiences spellbound

İlker Çatak’s nail-bitingly intense drama, “The Teachers’ Lounge,” (German film) nominated for Best International Film at the Oscars, delves into a world of contradictions, accusations, and power dynamics, leaving viewers filled with curiosity.

Plot Summary of Teachers’ Lounge

In the opening scene, we’re introduced to Carla Nowak (played by Leonie Benesch), a new math and PE teacher grappling with the clash between her ideals, the school’s hierarchy, and the pressure to fit in. A series of thefts occurs on campus, and Carla resorts to investigating the matter. This leads to unjust scrutiny of Ali, a Middle Eastern student, sparking accusations of racial profiling against the management.

With firm determination to right the wrongs she perceives, she takes it upon herself to uncover the thief, employing her wallet as bait and utilising her laptop’s camera for surveillance. Friederike Kuhn (played by Eva Löbau), an administrative colleague and mother of Oskar (portrayed by Leonard Stettnisch), one of Carla’s brightest students, becomes a prime suspect. However, Carla’s suspicions lack evidence. With increasing tension Carla’s actions put her job in jeopardy. Moreover, Oskar falls out with Carla suspecting his mother, thus further complicating the situation.

Cinematography of the movie

In “The Teachers’ Lounge,” viewers experience the school’s world solely through Carla Nowak’s perspective. Cinematographer Judith Kaufmann’s choice of a 4:3 aspect ratio constructs a narrow, claustrophobic environment, reflecting the larger world within the confines of the school.

“The Teachers’ Lounge” is meticulously crafted, with Judith Kaufmann’s cinematography along with Gesa Jager’s exceptional editing. There are shaky camera movements which add realism to the film.  It captures the raw emotions and desperation of the characters as they navigate through the narrative. Instead of relying on exposition, the visuals convey the characters’ feelings effectively.

The overall viewing experience is made better with Composer Marvin Millier’s less music incorporation techniques adding another layer of depth to the storytelling. Additionally, the film’s unexpected final scene leaves a lasting impact, in the mind of the audience.

In Conversation with Ilker Çatak

Çatak shares the film’s journey from its nomination at the Berlin International Film Festival to be being nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 2024 Oscars. In an interview the director said that he thought ‘The Teachers’ Lounge’ would be his last film. He shares his thoughts on how he has undergone lots of self-doubt considering himself to be a mediocre artist. The script went from tables to tables, it was rejected innumerable times, people told him that it was television material, he added. But he said, “Well, I’m just gonna make this film the way I want it, and if I never get to make another film, that’s okay.”

Details:

Director: İlker Çatak

Written by: Johannes Duncker, İlker Çatak

Producer: Ingo Fliess

Cast: Leonie Benesch, Leonard Stettnisch, Eva Löbau, Michael Klammer, Rafael Stachowiak, Sarah Bauerett, Kathrin Wehlisch, Anne-Kathrin Gummich

Cinematographer: Judith Kaufmann

Editor: Gesa Jäger

Music by: Marvin Miller

Recognitions received by the movie

Having debuted at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2023, the acclaimed feature “The Teachers’ Lounge” secured five German Film Awards across various categories including Best Film (Gold), Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, and Best Editing. Its widespread recognition led to screenings at numerous international festivals. In 2024, the film also bagged an Academy Award nomination for Best International Film.

Oscars 2024

Mark your calendars for March 10, 2024, as the prestigious event unfolds at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, The 96th Academy Awards, hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).