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The Teacher was One Hell of a Man
Ο Δασκαλάκος Ήταν Λεβεντιά
1970 83 min Greece R 18+
★7.0
Comedy
Director: Kostas Karagiannis
Trailers
Description
The teacher of a primary school in a mountainous village, arrives in Athens to force a rich businessman to keep his promise and to build a new school in the village.
Starring
Kostas Voutsas
Actor
Eleni Erimou
Actor
Dionysis Papagiannopoulos
Actor
Awards
Cannes Film Festival 1971
— Palme d'Or
Key opinion
Ted Kotcheff's 1971 Australian feature, 'Wake in Fright', is a compelling and unsettling exploration of cultural alienation and the psychological trap of the outback. While its narrative pace and intense atmosphere may polarize viewers, its visceral depiction of human degradation and the masterful performances anchor it as a significant, rediscovered work of 1970s cinema.
| Acting | Donald Pleasence delivers an exceptional, standout performance as the local doctor, serving as a mirror to the protagonist's moral decline. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography captures the oppressive heat, dust, and isolation of the Australian landscape without resorting to cliché or romanticized caricature. | |
| Theme | The film masterfully explores deep existential themes, particularly the thin line between choosing to stop in a place and being irrevocably trapped by one's own nature. | |
| Pacing | The visceral and intense kangaroo hunt sequence creates a polarizing effect, with some praising its raw, Peckinpah-style impact and others finding it jarringly brutal. |