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Date & Time Te rā me te wā
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- 6:15 PM
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- 10:00 AM
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Price Utu hoko
$19 - $180
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Location Te wāhi
The Civic -
More info He pārongo atu anō
Visit website
With deft handling of complex relational issues, The Teachers’ Lounge utilises a string of petty thefts at a German secondary school as the catalyst to explore a range of broader social issues – racial prejudice, socio-economic status, institutional conformity – and Germany’s troubled history, a spectre always lurking at the film’s edge.
Rising Turkish-German filmmaker İlker Çatak maintains a taut tone throughout, aided by smart framing of closed-in school halls, a cool colour palette, and a disquieting score. Leonie Benesch (whom some may recognise from The Crown or Michael Haneke’s The White Ribbon) is incisive and expressive as idealist immigrant teacher Carla Nowak. Benesch conveys great empathy, contrasted by an officious workplace and jaded colleagues, plus a mounting sense of unease as Carla fails to navigate a “good path” through quickly crumbling circumstances. Çatak’s screenplay makes provocative use of the film’s relatable context, resulting in a gripping human drama. — Jacob Powell
Getting there Te huarahi ki reira
By car, head to The Civic car park near Queen Street where you’ll find plenty of affordable paid parking. By train, head to Britomart Station and walk up Queen Street for around 10 minutes to reach The Civic. Alternatively, take a bus to the Queen Street or Wellesley Street bus stops, which are both within a short walking distance.
Local tip He tīwhiri mō te rohe
Head to Stark’s Café and Bar for a pre-show cocktail, beer or wine. It opens 90 minutes before any show or event at The Civic.