The difficulties of everyday existence within Gaza and the West Bank have been increasingly portrayed in both documentary and fictional films recently, documenting the numerous struggles faced by residents just trying to survive. These movies have collectively examined a range of topics, including the expansion of Israeli settlements, arbitrary demolition notices for homes, constant governmental oversight that is severe, and delayed justice for Palestinians. All of these problems are now explored in this first film from writer-director Farah Nabulsi. Inspired by actual events, the story centers on the complex life of West Bank high school English teacher Basem El-Saleh (Saleh Bakri), a man grappling with a difficult history (shown through flashbacks) and a sincere wish to improve his students’ lives (particularly brothers Adam (Muhammad Abed Elrahman) and Yacoub (Mahmoud Bakri), while also secretly staying involved in his people's political resistance movement. Simultaneously, Basem is also dealing with growing romantic feelings for Lisa (Imogen Poots), an empathetic Englishwoman who works as a youth counselor at the school. On paper, this combination of plot points seems like it could create an interesting story, but the way Basem’s frequently conflicting life is shown often feels somewhat awkward, disconnected, and unfocused, as if the film isn't always sure which path to take. As a result, it often feels like it’s methodically going through a list of problems commonly experienced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Furthermore, the romantic plotline seems exaggerated, frequently diverting attention from the more important aspects of the story. Overall, the way this film is made doesn't quite live up to its potential. This isn't to say that the issues raised here aren’t vital; they are certainly significant. However, their presentation often feels clumsy, leaving viewers wondering how (or if) everything will eventually come together. Ultimately, “The Teacher” would have been better with some careful revisions of the script and more selective editing to create a more cohesive final product. The situation of Palestinians should not be diminished or ignored, but if movies are going to help raise awareness about their circumstances, they ought to do a better job of representing them than is shown here.

Source on TMDB