Jeff M
This film was the basis for the Emmy-nominated FX mini-series starring Kate Mara and Nick Robinson. I have not seen it, so I can't make any comparison between the two. But I was rather shocked to see that this movie was absolutely ravaged by critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. I mean bludgeoned. I was totally transfixed by the movie, and for many of the reasons why other people seemed to loathe it. This is probably the third or fourth movie I've seen about the relationship between a teacher and student, one I reviewed just days ago, but this is the first of its kind that I felt was not only well made but made me feel the angst and devastation of the whole situation. It's a short movie - well less than 90 minutes - and it begins with the relationship already having started and ends so ambiguously that I understand why it would drive some people bonkers. And the film is almost more a set of vignettes than a cohesive story. But I was totally drawn in from start to finish, and as it reached its climax, I honestly didn't know in what direction it would go. I love character studies, and Burdge creates a character we care for, which ultimately makes the decisions she makes that much more devastating. Usually I write reviews very soon after watching so everything is fresh in my memory - this one I wanted to simmer a bit to make sure I was confident in my initial feelings. And I was. I think a lot of people really missed the boat on this one.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/11/24
Full Review
Georgan G
3 & 1/4 stars. The teacher's anxiety was palpable throughout the movie. She could not stop the affair with her student, but knew it would be the end of her career. Her mental health was clearly the issue.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
08/10/23
Full Review
patrick f
This is a weak movie that was absolutely carried by the great performance of Lindsay Burdge. At times the movie felt like it was simply wish fulfillment of a high school boy crushing on his teacher. Overall the film told the very limited story of a teacher's affair with a student turning into her obsession with him, presumably ruining her life. I say presumably because the film has no resolution and we are left wondering what happens next as it seems the teacher gets caught. A random story thread was introduced about the teacher's mom but never expanded upon. A big gripe I have with the film is the way too many long pauses with no dialogue. Lindsay Burdge did great communicating her characters increasing distress in these pauses, but they made up a significant portion of the film and let me feeling bored at times. The film is well constructed to make the teacher a sympathetic figure who was probably used by her student. However, I feel that is a dangerous story to tell. This sort of relationship should not be normalized.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Anthony R
The movie lead nowhere, just kept going in a circle. I wish it had more substance and dove more into the reasoning and issues that the teacher had to spiral into such a destructive path.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
07/02/22
Full Review
ronald h
"A Teacher" is immature and senseless trash, masquerading as art house fare. It's about (big surprise) young female high school teacher Diana having a sexual affair with her male student Eric. The two are played respectively by Lindsay Burdge and Will Brittain. I specifically call it a sexual affair because their relationship is so shallow, sex is the only thing they have in common.
Filmmaker Hannah Fidell uses a kind of cinema verité approach in much of the film, like she's just documenting the proceedings. It doesn't work. Rather, it comes off as contrived and disturbingly impartial, considering the illegality and immorality of the relationship.
To make matters worse, we get virtually no backstory for either of these idiotic characters, just boring scenes of them exchanging small talk because they have nothing serious to discuss. There is no point in their talking about love or whether their relationship has any future. A half hour into this film, I was ready to fall asleep. The only thing that kept me awake was the hope that something terrible would happen to both of them.
The sex scenes are brief and not graphic, but they are gratuitous. The entire premise of the film is gratuitous.
Of course, all fiction requires conflict. Aside from the implied conflict of the illicit affair, we finally get something concrete around the 40 minute mark, when the couple sneak off to Eric's father's ranch for a weekend shackup. The ranch foreman notices Eric's car and knocks on the door while they're in bed doing their usual stuff. Diana hides in the bathroom, and after the foreman leaves, she reminds Eric that she could lose her job if they get caught, and she thinks they should take a break from seeing each other. Really? How about giving me a break?
Further conflict ensues when Diana starts to regret pausing the affair. She chaperones a high school dance, and it upsets her to see Eric dancing with his date. This is, of course, heavy drama—if you're 14 years old.
She gets even more reckless and stupid, texting Eric and even showing up at his house late at night when his father is home. Clearly, this woman is losing her mind.
Things end badly, and I didn't care. This filmmaker has a lot to learn about audience engagement. There has to be some reason to care about what happens to the characters, and here, there is none.
Rated 1/5 Stars •
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
Full Review
Audience Member
This is a weak movie that was absolutely carried by the great performance of Lindsay Burdge. At times the movie felt like it was simply wish fulfillment of a high school boy crushing on his teacher. Overall the film told the very limited story of a teacher's affair with a student turning into her obsession with him, presumably ruining her life. I say presumably because the film has no resolution and we are left wondering what happens next as it seems the teacher gets caught. A random story thread was introduced about the teacher's mom but never expanded upon. A big gripe I have with the film is the way too many long pauses with no dialogue. Lindsay Burdge did great communicating her characters increasing distress in these pauses, but they made up a significant portion of the film and let me feeling bored at times. The film is well constructed to make the teacher a sympathetic figure who was probably used by her student. However, I feel that is a dangerous story to tell. This sort of relationship should not be normalized.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
01/15/23
Full Review
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