The Teacher

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2:20

The Teacher

Apr 2025

1h 58m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

83%

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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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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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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

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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

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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

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The Teacher: Trailer 1

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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)

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