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ABOUT A TEACHER is an intimate and inspiring drama that candidly takes us through the personal journey of a new inner-city public high school film teacher. Inspired by the filmmaker’s real-life experiences as an inner-city high school film teacher, Hanan (played by Dov Tiefenbach) enters the profession oblivious to the actual demands of teaching, and unaware of his own shortcomings and biases.
Featuring many of Hanan Harchol's former students in the cast and crew, ABOUT A TEACHER takes us through Hanan's first three years as a public high school teacher. The film paints a candid, authentic portrait of the teaching profession, shedding light on the challenges and pitfalls that lead nearly half of New York City teachers to leave the profession within the first five years, while simultaneously celebrating the deep rewards that this meaningful and noble profession can provide.
ABOUT A TEACHER is written, produced, and directed by Hanan Harchol, and executive produced by Sara Bloom. Starring Dov Tiefenbach, Tibor Feldman, Kate Eastman, Aurora Leonard, and Leslie Hendrix.
THE CRITICS ARE RAVING…
“the rare 'inspired by' movie that actually inspires..infused with an affecting dose of authenticity...remarkable...
Harchol’s inspirational film eschews mainstream tropes in favor of a bracingly candid sociological study that has compellingly done its homework...aligned to the docudrama stylings of Mike Leigh…”
- Michael Rechtshaffen, Los Angeles Times
"Few [movies about inner city schoolteachers]
have approached the subject with the impressive realism and naturalism as Hanan Harchol's semi-autobiographical feature directorial debut... About a Teacher deserves the theatrical release it would have gotten in more normal times and is definitely worth seeking out."
- Frank Sheck, Hollywood Reporter
In terms of what it says about public schools, education, and the difficulties that teachers face -- [it] felt very authentic, real, and naturalistic"
- Lael Loewenstein FilmWeek
(KPCC-NPR Los Angeles)
"I've rarely seen a movie about teachers and students that was this realistic... It doesn't seem phony at all."
- Peter Rainer FilmWeek
(KPCC-NPR Los Angeles)
"Harchol has created a movie that should be shown in every required entry-level education course." Rating: 10/10
- Bev Questad It's Just Movies
A new film written and directed by a teacher comes closer to capturing the feel of classroom life than most of its big budget predecessors...It turns out that it takes a teacher to make a decent movie about a teacher."
- Robert Pondiscio EducationNext
About a Teacher is a lovely, impassioned, and undeniably human film that honors the teaching profession....the film features many of Harchol’s former students in the cast and crew. The fact that they would come back to bring his vision to life is inspiring.
- Andrew Stover Film Threat
" 'About a Teacher' is an understated and deeply felt tribute to teachers..."
- Joel Copling SPECTRUM CULTURE
"The students,...were actual pupils of Harchol who came back to play themselves at age seventeen."
- review by Harvey Karten
Harchol reflects that “my students are my teachers, my best teachers.”
- Rich Tenorio The Times of Israel
Israeli Filmmaker Draws on Real-Life Experiences in ‘About a Teacher’ - review by Simi Horwitz
"...the film offers a meaningful look at urban education..." - review by Eleanor Bader
About a Teacher - Feature Film is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization.
