SXSW Review: A Teacher (2013)
Cast: Lindsay Burdge, Will Brittain, Jennifer Prediger
Director: Hannah Fidell
Country: USA
Genre: Drama
Official Trailer: Here
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The subject of teacher-student relationships seems to be popping up more frequently in the news. It is that subject that provided the inspiration for filmmaker Hannah Fidell’s second feature film, A Teacher. It’s clear that Fidell wanted her film to be taken seriously and not be confused as an indulgent, pulp picture. Though it should be commended for telling its story in a mature and effective manor, A Teacher is ultimately a well-directed film that would have benefitted from a stronger script.
Though it should be commended for telling its story in a mature and effective manor, A Teacher is ultimately a well-directed film that would have benefitted from a stronger script.
Lindsay Burdge commands the screen as Diana, giving us an incredibly believable performance of a woman who by all external factors would appear to be perfectly normal but in reality is drowning in a sea of internal torment. She could snap at any moment. Her chemistry with her lover, played by Will Brittain, has a natural feel to it. These are characters that feel real because of the actors’ natural presence onscreen, though rarely do they feel as if they have any depth to them.
It is clear to the viewer that Eric is a horny high school boy whose connection with Diana is nothing more than physical. The cause and effects of the relationship are never revealed, since the movie begins with the affair in full swing and closes just after it has come to a disastrous end. How Diane feels about the fact that she’s sleeping with one of her students is barely touched on, and it’s never quite clear if we’re even supposed to in any way identify with either of these characters.
Though I didn’t expect all of these issues to be addressed, I expected the movie to find a way bring its story more depth and was quite disappointed when it failed to do so. Any depth to Diana’s character is a result of Burdge’s harrowing performance. The brilliance to her performance lies in her ability to find the perfect balance between fragile innocence and unbridled instability. Seriously, you can’t take your eyes off her.
More than half of the movie focuses on the pair’s sexual encounters and secret rendezvous after school. Though well executed and never unnecessarily indulgent, these are moments that could have been spent better shaping Diana’s character and thus create a more compelling character study. One scene very early in the film suggests that Diana has a troubled family life, but it is over far too soon for it to be effective at all. One or two other scenes attempt to paint Diana as a social outsider, but are also undone by the film’s urgent need to reunite Diana and Eric.
Although A Teacher isn’t as effective a character study as Hannah Fidell intended it to be, it receives high marks for its work behind the camera.
Although A Teacher isn’t as effective a character study as Hannah Fidell intended it to be, it receives high marks for its work behind the camera. Engaging cinematography, subtle sound work, and a brilliant score blend together to create a successful technical achievement that ultimately captivates despite its weak script. The personal, almost invasive cinematography give the film a tangible sense of paranoia. As the film is told completely through Diana’s perspective, we also hear things from her perspective. Conversations that aren’t of interest to her fade into the background. They aren’t important to Diana and thus aren’t important to us. The score is of particular effectiveness, as it helps to gauge Diana’s mental stability. Although it is virtually nonexistent in the film’s opening, it crescendos into an unstoppable force during the film’s final act.
In the end, A Teacher is more of captivating mood piece than a character study. It has very little to say about its subject matter, and it doesn’t seem the least bit interested in providing any sort of social commentary. Though social commentary isn’t necessarily a must for a movie like this, strong characterization is, and Fidell’s reluctance to dive deeper into Diane’s psyche prevents her film from being truly memorable. Though it barely passes as an effective psychological thriller, A Teacher features commendable work from a director who clearly has a great movie inside her waiting to be made.
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