A barnyard birthing scene becomes a life-changing event for three characters who, moments before, had no clue as to their fates...

| Jun 18, 2020

The beauty of Mr. Slma's film is how it deftly unwraps a series of surprises for the audience, yet none of them seem like gratuitous twists.

| Oct 7, 2015

If great movies resulted purely from wizardly technical displays, then Czech writer-director Bohdan Sláma's The Country Teacher would be a masterpiece to give Béla Tarr pause.

| Original Score: 2/6 | Nov 17, 2011

Figuring out the true situation is what writer-director Bohdan Slma's beautifully nuanced character study is all about.

| Aug 26, 2011

The didactic lecture on forgiveness was a bore and all the contrivances smelled like manure.

| Original Score: C | May 8, 2011

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 22, 2009

The actors are interesting rather than glamorous, their acting style consistently low-key, and their triumphs and failures realized on a human rather than grandiose scale.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Aug 22, 2009

It's the kind of film that Hollywood used to excel at but no longer seems interested in making.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Aug 19, 2009

This small, contemporary Czech marvel showcases two bright talents and a sentiment not seen often enough on screen nowadays: sincerity.

| Aug 14, 2009

The film boasts subtle performances and curious situations with unpredictable outcomes.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jul 23, 2009

A meaningful though patient drama built upon beautiful shots, a gentle humor and a great performance from Pavel Liska.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 17, 2009

The film is graced with lovely performances by Pavel Liska as the teacher, Zuzana Bydzovska as Marie and Ladislav Sedivy as the boy.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 10, 2009

Teacher is a comedy-drama that feels real and humane and keeps finding ways to surprise us because its characters are as complicated as real people tend to be.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 26, 2009

Despite all the pain and self-loathing of its wounded characters, it's a pretty, heartwarming picture that tells us everybody needs somebody to help shatter that ol' boulder for good.

| Jun 26, 2009

Sometimes predictable, but it takes a number of surprising turns.

| Original Score: B | Jun 4, 2009

Liska, who looks like a Central European version of the young Harvey Keitel, has a kind of pitch-perfect opacity.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 21, 2009

The stunning pastoral setting at the core of The Country Teacher provides a sly backdrop for the troubled triangle at the heart of the heartfelt drama Czech writer-director Bohdan Slma.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 16, 2009

It's a movie that demonstrates, if you'll pardon the sports metaphor, how deep the bench is in Eastern European film.

| Apr 3, 2009

Has exquisite cinematography and occasional moments of tenderness, but its characters never truly come to life and its uneven screenplay doesn't fully explore their human struggles convincingly and sensitively enough to be make it an emotionally resonatin

| Original Score: 5.25/10 | Mar 28, 2009

Directed by Bohdan Slma, it deals with weighty issues -- loneliness, sexual identity, love (straight and gay) -- in a quiet, intelligent fashion.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Mar 27, 2009