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The Teacher

Play trailer 2:20 Poster for The Teacher Now Playing 1h 58m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 29 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
In this gripping drama by Oscar nominated and BAFTA winning director Farah Nabulsi (The Present), Palestinian schoolteacher Basem (Saleh Bakri) faces personal turmoil after a tragic incident involving his son. He finds solace in a deep bond with his student Adam and British social worker Lisa (Imogen Poots). Meanwhile, an American attorney and his wife push for the return of their son, an Israeli soldier held by a Palestinian resistance group, leading to tensions over a potential prisoner exchange. The intertwining stories highlight themes of empathy and conflict, culminating in a powerful narrative marked by unexpected twists.
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The Teacher

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A political drama that hits a raw emotional nerve thanks in part to Saleh Bakri's terrific lead performance, The Teacher marks an auspicious feature-length debut by writer-director Farah Nabulsi.

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Critics Reviews

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Carlos Aguilar Los Angeles Times That spirit-crushing feeling of powerlessness is what director Nabulsi aims to fend off, admittedly through not always effective narrative means, but with emotional sincerity nonetheless. Apr 21, 2025 Full Review Bob Mondello NPR Writer-director Farah Nabulsi ratchets up the tension, as well as the pain... She's given events a neatness and symmetry that seems unlikely in real life, but there's truth in the emotional trauma. Apr 17, 2025 Full Review Hannah Giorgis The Atlantic The Teacher, in its best stretches, captures the intimate horrors of life under harrowing circumstances -- and the lifesaving power of the relationships that people still manage to forge and nurture. Apr 15, 2025 Full Review Matthew St. Clair Cinematic Words of a Chaotic Gemini (Substack) Similar to his work as a closeted gay man in The Blue Caftan, Saleh Bakri conveys a whirlwind of conflict and despair with just his eyes. Rated: B May 4, 2025 Full Review Sara Clements Next Best Picture It’s incredibly heavy. At times, nearly unbearable in its realism. But it’s also beautiful, brave, and vital. Rated: 8/10 Apr 18, 2025 Full Review James Verniere Boston Movie News Powerful, a kind of fiction version of 2024 Academy Award winning documentary "No Other Land." Saleh Baki is superb. Rated: A- Apr 18, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Siosiua Vea Raw. Emotional. Elusively Humane. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/28/25 Full Review Lisa Excellent movie! So well written, and the acting was phenomenal. The best movie I have seen in a long time. Its real life so its unpredictable, which I really enjoy. I will see it again. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/27/25 Full Review Badie Powerful and raw — The Teacher tells the side of the story we rarely see. A must-watch. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/22/25 Full Review DJ Really well made movie, had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Artistically well done. Would buy this movie at home to watch over and over. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/20/25 Full Review CL "important" movie to see for sociopolitical reasons. Great acting, but they have an uphill climb. Too many plots that don't add up. But if you haven't spent time in the West Bank, worth seeing. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 04/19/25 Full Review Kevin Lovely in every aspect! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/19/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Teacher

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Cast & Crew

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Farah Nabulsi

Director

Saleh Bakri

Basem El Saleh

Imogen Poots

Lisa

Muhammad Abed Elrahman

Adam

Stanley Townsend

Simon Cohen

Andrea Irvine

Actor

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The Teacher

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this gripping drama by Oscar nominated and BAFTA winning director Farah Nabulsi (The Present), Palestinian schoolteacher Basem (Saleh Bakri) faces personal turmoil after a tragic incident involving his son. He finds solace in a deep bond with his student Adam and British social worker Lisa (Imogen Poots). Meanwhile, an American attorney and his wife push for the return of their son, an Israeli soldier held by a Palestinian resistance group, leading to tensions over a potential prisoner exchange. The intertwining stories highlight themes of empathy and conflict, culminating in a powerful narrative marked by unexpected twists.
Director
Farah Nabulsi
Producer
Sawsan Asfari, Farah Nabulsi, Ossama Bawardi
Screenwriter
Farah Nabulsi, Farah Nabulsi
Distributor
Watermelon Pictures
Production Co
Cocoon Films, Cocoonfilms
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 11, 2025, Limited
Runtime
1h 58m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)