This Teacher

Last updated
This Teacher
This Teacher poster.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Mark Jackson
Written byMark Jackson
Dana Thompson
Produced byMark Jackson
Dana Thompson
Gigi Graff
Josh Mandel
Javier Gonzalez
Starring Hafsia Herzi
Sarah Kazemy
Lucy Walters
Kevin Kane
Lev Gore
Gabe Fazio
Rebekah del Rio
CinematographyJohn Barr
Edited byMark Jackson
Gary Chan
Music byDave Eggar
Chuck Palmer
Distributed by Breaking Glass Pictures
Release date
  • September 22, 2018 (2018-09-22)(Los Angeles) [1]
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

This Teacher is a 2018 film directed by Mark Jackson and distributed by Breaking Glass Pictures. [2] [3]

Contents

The film premiered at the 2018 LA Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Fiction Award. [4] It also was the closing night film of the 2019 Slamdance Film Festival. [5]

Plot

A French Muslim woman (Hafsia Herzi) travels to New York City from the rough neighborhoods outside of Paris to visit her childhood best friend Zahra (Sarah Kazemy). Hafsia finds that Zahra was not the girl she knew growing up in Paris. She now goes by Sarah and has completely assimilated into Western culture. Sarah explains to her much older boyfriend (Gabe Fazio) that Hafsia stinks and she doesn't want her to stay there anymore, which Hafsia overhears. Hafsia steals Sarah's credit card and identity, then disappears to a remote cabin upstate. Deep in the woods and alone for the first time in her life, she experiences a divine revelation. Sarah arrives and tries to convince Hafsia to return with her, which she refuses.

An animal breaks into Hafsia's cabin and steals all the food. Initially a couple, teacher Rose (Lucy Walters) and policeman Darren (Kevin Kane), help her. But Hafsia begins to see intolerance and suspicion which reflects back to an Islamophobic America. This third act explores themes such as the inherent racism and naivety that comes along with being a white American, that most white Americans don't even know they have or the rampant Islamophobia that has overtaken most of the world, and the difficulties of being a Muslim, particularly a Muslim woman, in a post-911 world. [6] [7] [8]

Critical reception

The film received positive reviews from critics, the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 100% of critics have given the film a positive review based on seven reviews. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mila Kunis</span> American actress (born 1983)

Milena Markovna "Mila" Kunis is an American actress. Born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, and raised in Los Angeles, Kunis began playing Jackie Burkhart on the Fox television series That '70s Show (1998–2006) at the age of 14. She has voiced Meg Griffin on the Fox animated series Family Guy since 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Mortimer</span> British actress (born 1971)

Emily Kathleen Anne Mortimer is a British actress and filmmaker. She began acting in stage productions and has since appeared in several film and television roles. In 2003, she won an Independent Spirit Award for her performance in Lovely and Amazing. She is also known for playing Mackenzie McHale in the HBO series The Newsroom (2012–2014). She created and wrote the series Doll & Em (2014–2015) and wrote and directed the miniseries The Pursuit of Love (2021), the latter of which earned her a nomination for the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress.

<i>Melvin Goes to Dinner</i> 2003 American independent comedy film

Melvin Goes to Dinner is a 2003 American film adaptation of Michael Blieden's stage play Phyro-Giants!, directed by Bob Odenkirk. Blieden wrote the screenplay from his stage play, and he also stars in the film, along with Stephanie Courtney, Matt Price and Annabelle Gurwitch. The film premiered at the 2003 Slamdance Film Festival.

<i>Opening Night</i> (1977 film) 1977 film by John Cassavetes

Opening Night is a 1977 American psychological drama film written and directed by John Cassavetes, and starring Gena Rowlands, Ben Gazzara, Joan Blondell, Paul Stewart, Zohra Lampert, and Cassavetes. Its plot follows a stage actress who, after witnessing the accidental death of one of her fans, is haunted by a recurring apparition of the deceased woman, spurring a nervous breakdown while she prepares for the premiere of a Broadway play.

<i>Swimming</i> (film) 2000 American film

Swimming is a 2000 coming-of-age drama film directed by Robert J. Siegel and starring Lauren Ambrose, Jennifer Dundas, and Joelle Carter. The film chronicles a summer in the life of Frankie, a teenager on South Carolina's Myrtle Beach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judy Greer</span> American actress (born 1975)

Judith Therese Evans, known professionally as Judy Greer, is an American actress. She is primarily known as a character actress who has appeared in a wide variety of films. She rose to prominence for her supporting roles in the films Jawbreaker (1999), What Women Want (2000), 13 Going on 30 (2004), Elizabethtown (2005), 27 Dresses (2008), and Love & Other Drugs (2010).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristen Wiig</span> American actress and comedian (born 1973)

Kristen Carroll Wiig is an American actress, comedian, screenwriter and producer. First breaking through as a performer with the Los Angeles comedy troupe The Groundlings, Wiig achieved nationwide stardom during her seven-season tenure on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2005 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teresa Palmer</span> Australian actress (born 1986)

Teresa Mary Palmer is an Australian actress. She began her career with roles in Bedtime Stories (2008), The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010), Take Me Home Tonight (2011), and I Am Number Four (2011). She received further recognition for starring in the films Warm Bodies (2013), Lights Out (2016), Hacksaw Ridge (2016), and Berlin Syndrome (2017). She also starred in, co-wrote, and co-produced the drama film The Ever After (2014), with her husband Mark Webber. From 2018 to 2022, Palmer starred as Diana Bishop in the supernatural drama series A Discovery of Witches.

<i>Blue Car</i> 2002 American film

Blue Car is a 2002 American drama film directed and written by Karen Moncrieff. It was the first film she directed and wrote. The film stars David Strathairn, Agnes Bruckner, Margaret Colin, and Frances Fisher.

<i>Arranged</i> (film) 2007 American film

Arranged is a 2007 American independent film produced by Cicala Filmworks, directed by Diane Crespo and Stefan Schaefer, and starring Zoe Lister-Jones and Francis Benhamou. It tells the story of the friendship between an Orthodox Jewish woman (Rochel) and a Muslim woman (Nasira), both of whom are teachers in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hafsia Herzi</span> French actress

Hafsia Herzi is a French actress, screenwriter, and director. She is best known for her debut role in the award-winning Franco-Tunisian feature The Secret of the Grain for which she won the award for most promising actress at the César Awards 2008, and the Marcello Mastroianni award, for best emerging actor/actress at the 64th Venice International Film Festival.

<i>War Story</i> (2014 film) 2014 American film

War Story is a 2014 American drama film directed by Mark Jackson from a screenplay by Jackson and Kristin Gore. It stars Catherine Keener, Hafsia Herzi and Ben Kingsley. The film had its world premiere at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2014, and later screened at 2014 International Film Festival Rotterdam. Its music was composed by Amy Lee, Dave Eggar, and Chuck Palmer.

<i>Butter on the Latch</i> 2013 American film

Butter on the Latch is a 2013 experimental psychological thriller/drama film written, produced, and directed by Josephine Decker. It tells the story of Sarah and Isolde attending a Balkan music camp, the eroding friendship between them, and the budding romance between Sarah and a male camper named Steph.

Sarah-Violet Bliss is an American screenwriter and director best known for writing and directing the independent comedy film Fort Tilden and the TBS dark comedy television series Search Party.

<i>Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town</i> 2017 film

Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town is a 2017 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Christian Papierniak. The film stars Mackenzie Davis as a woman at rock bottom who must find her way across Los Angeles in order to crash her ex-boyfriend's engagement party. The film had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 17, 2017. It was theatrically released in the United States by Shout! Studios on June 22, 2018.

<i>What Keeps You Alive</i> 2018 Canadian thriller film

What Keeps You Alive is a 2018 Canadian psychological horror film written and directed by Colin Minihan. It stars Hannah Emily Anderson and Brittany Allen and follows a young woman fighting for her life as her wife's murderous intentions become evident.

<i>Shirley</i> (2020 film) 2020 film by Josephine Decker

Shirley is a 2020 American biographical drama film directed by Josephine Decker and written by Sarah Gubbins, based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Susan Scarf Merrell, which formed a "largely fictional story" around novelist Shirley Jackson during the time period she was writing her 1951 novel Hangsaman. The film stars Elisabeth Moss as Jackson, with Michael Stuhlbarg, Odessa Young, and Logan Lerman in supporting roles. Martin Scorsese serves as an executive producer.

<i>Hala</i> (film) 2019 film

Hala is a 2019 American drama film written and directed by Minhal Baig. The film was screened in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, and was released in a limited theatrical release on November 22, 2019, followed by digital streaming on December 6, 2019, by Apple TV+. The film received generally positive reviews. It is based on a previous short film by Baig made in 2016 by the same name.

<i>Mektoub, My Love: Intermezzo</i> 2019 film by Abdellatif Kechiche

Mektoub, My Love: Intermezzo is a 2019 French erotic drama film produced, co-written, and directed by Abdellatif Kechiche. The film is a sequel to Kechiche's 2017 film Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno, and like its predecessor, is based on the novel La Blessure, la vraie written by François Bégaudeau. It stars Shaïn Boumedine, Ophélie Bau, Salim Kechiouche, Alexia Chardard, Lou Luttiau, and Hafsia Herzi

<i>Tahara</i> (film) 2020 American film

Tahara is a 2020 American drama film directed by Olivia Peace and written by Jess Zeidman. It premiered at the 2020 Slamdance Film Festival and was released to wide audiences on June 10, 2022. Tahara received awards from Outfest, Newfest, and the Denver International Film Festival.

References

  1. "2018 Los Angeles Film Festival * 9/20 – 9/28 - Film School Radio hosted by Mike Kaspar" . Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  2. https://slamdance2019.eventive.org/films/this-teacher-5c0ac8673a3558001c1bb1fe
  3. "This Teacher - Political Drama - Independent Film" . Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  4. "'Brian Banks' & Swedish Oscar Entry 'Border' Among Los Angeles Film Festival Winners". 28 September 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  5. "Watch: A Clip from Mark Jackson's Slamdance Closing Night Film, This Teacher". 31 January 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  6. 1 2 "This Teacher". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  7. 'This Teacher': Film Review, Hollywood Reporter
  8. Lorry Kikta. January 27, 2019. This Teacher. Film Threat.