American Teacher
Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space Thalia Film Sundays |
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2011. USA. Vanessa Roth. 81 min. Narrated by Matt Damon. Documentary
Q&A with Oscar Winner Vannessa Roth after the October 30, 6:15pm screening!
"Raises important questions about America's teachers. It should spark a much-needed conversation." -Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
"Every policymaker should be required to see the new film American Teacher. Powerful, compelling!" - Mark Phillips, Washington Post
"As we watch the individuals in "American Teacher" struggle with the burdens the system places on them, it's hard not to feel like crying, both for them specifically and for our national culture. As one education authority laments after revealing his son's salary-based job choice, 'Something's wrong when selling cellphones is more important to society than being a teacher." - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
"This heartbreaking and essential look into the lives of those who put so much into educating other people's children ought to be seen by anyone concerned about the fate of the public school system, and the nation as a whole." - Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News
"Terrific, uplifting and heartbreaking study of what it's like to teach in America today should inspire intense admiration and even more intense anger over what is revealed...The filmmakers have done a wholly admirable job." - David Noh, Film Journal
"Sobering, Powerful!" - Ernest Hardy, Village Voice
"A heartfelt, bittersweet portrait of several teachers as they make the difficult decision of whether to stick with the profession...a nicely drawn study." - Neil Genzlinger, The New York Times
"One of those films which makes you want to cry, or scream, or both."
-Wanda Bershen, Documentary.org
"Exposes the reality of any normal teacher's life, calls for action, and raises some important questions." - Isabel Allende
Chronicling the stories of five teachers in different areas of the country, American Teacher reveals the frustrating realities of today's educators, the difficulty of attracting talented new teachers, and why so many of our best teachers feel forced to leave the profession altogether.
But this wake-up call to our system's failings also looks at possibilities for reform. Can we re-value teaching in the United States and turn it into a prestigious, financially attractive and desirable profession? With almost half of American teachers leaving the field in the next ten years, now is the time to find out. (from SFIFF)
