The Teacher

Q&A with Oscar-nominated director Jan Hřebejk

Set in early 1980s Czechoslovakia, an elementary school principal calls an urgent meeting for parents. There are allegations that a seemingly kind teacher is using her students to manipulate their parents into providing a host of perks. Will the teacher’s cozy connections with the Communist Party keep the parents silent, or will they stand up against the corruption? Inspired by true events, this suspenseful drama reveals the strength of the human character. It is a universal story that could happen anytime and anywhere, as long as corruption, pettiness, and selfishness still rule the world. Actress Zuzana Mauréry won the Czech Lion Award for Best Actress, and the film was nominated for a Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival (2016).

Czech Director Jan Hřebejk garnered an Oscar nomination in the category of Best Foreign Language Film in 2000 for his film DIVIDED WE CALL. He also received the country’s top honor, the Czech Lion Award for Best Director three times for his films BIG BEAT (Sakalí léta, 1994), DIVIDED WE FALL (Musíme si pomáhat, 2001), and UP AND DOWN (Horem pádem, 2005)