Alternative Education
At the time of year when many of us head back to school, we thought we'd take a moment to showcase films that recognize that teachers come in many forms, that education happens outside as well as inside the classroom, that life lessons are not always the ones we’d choose to learn.
A Tale of Love and Desire
(Une histoire d'amour et de désir)
Sparks fly between literature students Ahmed and Farah when their study of erotic Arabic poetry moves beyond the classroom.
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- France, Tunisia • 2021
- Director Leyla Bouzid
- Cast Sami Outalbali, Zbeida Belhajamor, Diong-Kéba Tacu, Aurélia Petit, Mahia Zrouki, Bellamine Abdelmalek
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, OVID, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, VUDU Free, Kanopy, Hoopla
Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn
(Babardeala cu bucluc sau porno balamuc)
A secondary school teacher must face the wrath of her community when her sex tape spreads online.
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- Romania, Croatia, Czech Republic • 2021
- Director Radu Jude
- Cast Katia Pascariu, Claudia Ieremia, Olimpia Malai, Nicodim Ungureanu, Alexandru Potocean, Andi Vasluianu
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Hulu, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store
My Octopus Teacher
A diver and a wild octopus earn each other’s trust — and friendship.
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- South Africa • 2020
- Director Philippa Ehrlich, James Reed
- Cast Craig Foster, Tom Foster
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom
(ལུང་ནག་ན)
A teacher in search of inspiration travels to the most remote school in the world.
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- Bhutan, China • 2019
- Director Pawo Choyning Dorji
- Cast Sherab Dorji, Ugyen Norbu Lhendup, Keldon Lhamo Gurung, Pem Zam, Chimi Dem
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, YouTube, Amazon Video, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Kanopy, Hoopla
Sex Education
After accidentally helping a bully with his performance anxiety, an insecure teen sets up a sex advice business at his school.
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- United Kingdom • 2019
- Creator Laurie Nunn
- Cast Gillian Anderson, Asa Butterfield, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Kedar Williams-Stirling, Aimée-Lou Wood
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Fleabag
All hail the hot priest!
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- United Kingdom • 2016
- Creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge
- Cast Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Olivia Colman, Bill Paterson, Hugh Dennis
- Genre Comedy
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
The Teacher
(Učiteľka)
The strange story of Mrs. Drazdechova --- a teacher who blackmails her students' parents.
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- Slovakia, Czech Republic • 2016
- Director Jan Hřebejk
- Cast Zuzana Mauréry, Csongor Kassai, Zuzana Konečná, Tamara Fischer, Martin Havelka
- Genre Drama, Comedy
- Available on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Fandango At Home, Tubi TV, Freevee, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
A Prophet
(Un prophète)
The timeless tale of the student who becomes the master -- set in a French prison.
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- France, Italy • 2009
- Director Jacques Audiard
- Cast Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif, Hichem Yacoubi, Reda Kateb, Jean-Philippe Ricci
- Genre Crime, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
An Education
An education isn't always by the book.
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- United Kingdom, United States • 2009
- Director Lone Scherfig
- Cast Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Olivia Williams, Alfred Molina
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, AMC on Demand
The Wave
(Die Welle)
A high school teacher's unorthodox lesson on autocracy spirals out of control and causes students to turn against one another.
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- Germany, France • 2008
- Director Dennis Gansel
- Cast Jürgen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Max Riemelt, Jennifer Ulrich, Christiane Paul, Elyas M'Barek
- Genre Drama, Thriller
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, The Roku Channel
The Piano Teacher
(La Pianiste)
Perversion --- at its absolute best.
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- Austria, France, Germany • 2001
- Director Michael Haneke
- Cast Isabelle Huppert, Annie Girardot, Benoît Magimel, Susanne Lothar, Udo Samel, Anna Sigalevitch
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube
Italian for Beginners
(Italiensk for begyndere)
A group of strangers find friendship, family and love within an Italian beginners’ course.
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- Denmark, Sweden • 2000
- Director Lone Scherfig
- Cast Peter Gantzler, Ann Eleonora Jørgensen, Anders W. Berthelsen, Anette Støvelbæk, Lars Kaalund, Sara Indrio Jensen
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Available on Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel , Fandango At Home, Amazon Video