Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) is a dedicated, idealistic young teacher in her first job at a German middle school. Her relaxed rapport with her seventh-grade students is put under stress when a series of thefts occur at the school, and a staff investigation leads to accusations and mistrust among outraged parents, opinionated colleagues, and angry students. Caught in the middle of these complex dynamics, Carla tries to mediate—but the more she tries to do everything right, the more desperate her position becomes.
With The Teachers’ Lounge, award-winning director Ilker Çatak (I Was, I Am, I Will Be) creates a riveting work about school as a microcosm of society. Starring as the dedicated young teacher, Leonie Benesch (The White Ribbon, Babylon Berlin) drives an intense atmosphere through her captivating portrayal of an idealist caught between clashing sides. The Teacher’s Lounge is a study in power dynamics, with themes of truth, justice, racism, respect, and children’s rights that demonstrate how individuals are worn down between entrenched positions.