The Teacher (2023 film)

The Teacher is a 2023 drama film by British-Palestinian filmmaker Farah Nabulsi. It premiered at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2023.

The Teacher
Directed byFarah Nabulsi
Written byFarah Nabulsi
Produced by
  • Sawsan Asfari
  • Farah Nabulsi
  • Ossama Bawardi
Starring
CinematographyGilles Porte
Edited byMike Pike
Music byAlex Baranowski
Production
companies
  • Cocoon Films
  • Native Liberty Productions
  • Philistine Films
Distributed byGoodfellas (International)[1]

CAA (USA)[2]

Front Row Filmed Entertainment (MENA)
Release date
  • 9 September 2023 (2023-09-09) (Toronto)
Running time
115 minutes
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • Qatar
  • Palestine
Languages
  • English
  • Arabic

Set in present-day Palestine, Nabulsi described the film as a "human drama set in a political landscape" and "a story about characters that represent a severely marginalised and underrepresented people," stating that she "needed to make this film to cope with the injustice I've witnessed."[3]

Plot

Basem is a Palestinian schoolteacher who finds himself caught between his commitment to political resistance and his role as a father figure to one of his students, Adam.[4]

Cast

Production

The film was shot entirely in Palestine,[5] particularly in Nablus,[3] over three months.[6]

Regarding the choice to film in Palestine, director Farah Nabulsi felt a responsibility to do so, saying "I did contemplate the path of least resistance, like doing it in Jordan or a different location. But I thought it a privilege to be able to actually enter Palestine and make a film in Palestine, which many Palestinian filmmakers can't."[6] In an interview with Deadline, she described "the emotional and mental toll" of leading a team whilst "trying to do justice to a reality that's unfolding around you."[3] She cited Israeli settlers torching olive trees in a Palestinian village nearby while filming,[7] as well as a military raid of Nablus which occurred just a few kilometres from where the crew had been shooting a few hours earlier.[3]

Release

The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2023. Variety released an exclusive clip from the film two days before its premiere, on 7 September.[8]

Reception

Critical response

Critics praised The Teacher for its exploration of life in occupied Palestine, as well as the performances of Saleh Bakri, Imogen Poots and Muhammad Abed Elrahman.

Vogue's Taylor Antrim hailed the film as an "absorbing first feature by British-Palestinian director Farah Nabulsi" and was "moved and gripped by the film’s exploration of Palestinian anger and grief," including it as one of his "10 Movies From the Toronto Film Festival to Get Excited About."[9]

Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "riveting," "eye-opening," and "an intimate exploration of life in occupied Palestine," praising the actors for "three compelling performances, led by the striking and understated intensity of Saleh Bakri."[5]

Screen Daily's Tim Grierson commended Nabulsi for "[tackling] a thorny issue with complexity, crafting a drama with several tendrils reaching out in all different directions, illustrating how the Israeli/Palestinian dispute impacts so many in the region."[10]

Alex Ritman of The Hollywood Reporter called the film a "Toronto hidden gem"[7] and Screen Daily listed The Teacher as one of the “20 stand-out titles from Toronto 2023."[11]

Despite acknowledging the "necessary counterbalance" the film provided "in a climate where Palestinian perspectives on the conflict are given limited opportunity for exposure," IndieWire criticised the film for focusing too much on Basem and Lisa's relationship, as this gave "short shrift to dynamics that carry much more necessity and weight."[12]

Accolades

In October 2023, the film was longlisted for the 2023 British Independent Film Awards in three categories: Best Debut Director, Best Debut Screenwriter and Breakthrough Producer.[13]

References
  1. "The Teacher". Goodfellas. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  2. "Toronto-Bowing Palestinian Suspense Drama 'The Teacher' Sells to Front Row for Middle East". The Hollywood Reporter. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  3. Lodderhouse, Diane (8 September 2023). "British-Palestinian Filmmaker Farah Nabulsi On Debut Feature 'The Teacher': "I Needed To Make This Film To Cope With The Injustice I've Witnessed". Deadline. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  4. "Official Website". The Teacher. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  5. Linden, Sheri (9 September 2023). "The Teacher' Review: A Debut Feature's Eye-Opening Dramatization of Life in Occupied Palestine". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  6. Fleming, Mike (30 August 2023). "Hot Film Package: Farah Nabulsi-Directed Palestine-Shot Drama 'The Teacher' Ready For Fall Market". Deadline. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  7. Ritman, Alex (9 September 2023). "Toronto Hidden Gem: Farah Nabulsi Crafts a Palestinian Socio-Political Suspense Drama in Feature Debut 'The Teacher'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  8. Barraclough, Leo (7 September 2023). "First Clip Debuts for Farah Nabulsi's Thriller 'The Teacher,' Starring Imogen Poots, Saleh Bakri, Ahead of Toronto Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  9. Antrim, Taylor (13 September 2023). "10 Movies From the Toronto Film Festival to Get Excited About". Vogue. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  10. Grierson, Tim (10 September 2023). "'The Teacher': Toronto Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  11. Halligan, Fionnuala (20 September 2023). "20 stand-out titles from Toronto 2023". Screen Daily. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  12. Chapman, Wilson (10 September 2023). "'The Teacher' Review: Inspired by True Events Drama Offers an Undercooked Revenge Story". IndieWire. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  13. "BIFA 2023 LONGLISTS | NEW TALENT CATEGORIES". BIFA. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
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