This movie is about a dour, strict, and burnt-out single female teacher's reaction to a school shooting. Though a competent teacher, Drea hates her job and the brats she has to keep in line. She sticks to regulations and dry teaching methods in order grind away her time, but is approaching a breaking point. A naive, quirky, and easygoing younger woman joins the faculty, who dares to put the classroom chairs in a circle! Though initially hostile, Drea warms up to Katya's advances, and they become friends despite their very different personalities. But then one day Katya is shot by a student.
Though this premise is mildly interesting, and behind-the-scenes stories of teachers are for some reason intriguing (and who doesn't enjoy a school shooting?) the movie is weighed down with clichés and sentimentality. Teen moms, bullied boys, psychic communication, getting in touch with nature, getting in touch with feelings, a psychologist witchdoctor, a woman's courage...and of course the redeeming conclusion. In other words it plays out like a formulaic chick flick. But I nevertheless rate it highly as a character study due to Anna Loos's performance. I'm not qualified to critique her acting, but the Frau has a strangely sexy scowl.
Though this premise is mildly interesting, and behind-the-scenes stories of teachers are for some reason intriguing (and who doesn't enjoy a school shooting?) the movie is weighed down with clichés and sentimentality. Teen moms, bullied boys, psychic communication, getting in touch with nature, getting in touch with feelings, a psychologist witchdoctor, a woman's courage...and of course the redeeming conclusion. In other words it plays out like a formulaic chick flick. But I nevertheless rate it highly as a character study due to Anna Loos's performance. I'm not qualified to critique her acting, but the Frau has a strangely sexy scowl.