The Teacher

We have to help each other in a Czechoslovakian way. Although I can't shake the feeling that it would work better on the stage, I don't regret the time invested. And I wouldn't regret even more if the Jarchovský/Hřebejk duo once had been backed by a clear storyline. It is not directed as a story from beginning to end, but there are rather individual separate "bachelor's" segments, where every twenty minutes are devoted to one family and then the focus is on another one, without ever returning to the previous ones. It is also a pity that the children are sidelined after a while. The reason why it works so well in spite of the above is that the situation and its solution from the point of view of individual families is played out interestingly, that what Jarchovský spoils in terms of plot, is made up with dialogs and the fact that the performances of unknown cast is amazing. In other words, that is the most sad is the opportunity of the final part was completely wasted. (12/15/2016)

The biggest problem with The Teacher is actually that it exists at all. Not so much because of the Hřebejk/Jarchovský duo's already rather tired dwelling on criticism of normalization, but because of the fact that in an age where the problem is more likely to be a quivering teacher who knows that for every bullet he dodges, he’s approximately three minutes away from a bullet in an MMS from the parents, a theme about the tyranny of parents and children by an educator is somehow unnecessary. Hřebejk has a way with actors, settings, props, and the period stuffiness of normalization. He often uses medium close-ups and close-ups of the warring parties, building a good illusion of a small/big problem. The interior furnishings don't look like clean props worn from a warehouse onto the set, but rather build a good illusion of the prefab hell of trapped families. Unfortunately, every now and then one of the characters turns a page in the script and starts coughing up paper so vehemently that it easily wakes you from the context and starts trending Jarchovský invective, but the whole perverse variation on 12 Angry Men where, instead of a black boy, the men of character are arguing over whether 5.A will have a substitute instead of the old communist Drazdechová, I find it telling of the coldness of the pre-revolutionary society whose cross we still bear. And I find the payoff of the anonymous signing line after you've abstained from the whole decision-making process quite apt and amusing. (05/11/2017)

Jan Hřebejk has made a very strong film that shows that he and Jarchovský have really mastered the communist era, both from the more comedic and the more dramatic perspectives. If they’d gone any further this film would almost be a horror film. This film also shows us that it's not so much about the time period, but rather about the people. (09/08/2017)

I guess my review will seem rather schizophrenic. The film was enjoyable to watch, Zuzana Mauréry in the role of a teacher was really punch-worthy (and I don't hit women despite equal rights) and the meeting of the various different characters at PTA meetings was very enlightening. That’s as far as the positives go. But I still remember going to primary school in the 80s quite well (strange as it may seem) and I know it wasn’t like that at all. Life was neither black and white nor red and white, it was mostly a huge gray zone. Sure, there were some downright bad guys (our Comrade Deputy Director sure was dreamy), but no one was completely innocent (although one or two cases came close). Anyway, I think the screenwriter and director made things much easier for themselves, and since it was a drama - two stars. I’d be more benevolent if it was a comedy. (01/03/2020)

The Bratislava Křeč Theater Association presents: didactic theater from history. Structure: Němý Bobeš (that's how it was!). Acting: Attention, now I have a speech and I take a stand. Method: simplify, repeat three times, write it on the board. Regarding this attempted drama of conscience, go conscientiously stab yourselves, gentlemen. A new bottom. #kviff2016 (07/05/2016)