FACETS CINÉMATHÈQUE
October - November 2011
The Facets Cinémathèque is located at 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. in Chicago. For more information on films playing in the Cinémathèque, please call 773-281-4114. To order advance tickets online, visit the TicketWeb website by clicking here.
Chicago Premiere
Back by popular demand!
AMERICAN TEACHER
"Unsettling"
-Los Angeles Times
"Terrific, uplifting and heartbreaking... [a] stirring, blisteringly immediate film"
-Film Journal
"Heartbreaking and essential"
-NY Daily News
"Heartfelt, bittersweet"
-New York Times
As the debate over the state of America's public school system rages on, one thing everyone (including President Obama) agrees on is the need for great teachers. Yet, while research proves that teachers are the most important school factor in a child's future success, America's teachers are so woefully underpaid that almost a third must divide their time between a second job in order to make a living.
Chronicling the stories of four 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 choose to leave the profession altogether. Their stories are disheartening, 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 competitive profession? With almost half of American teachers leaving the field in the next five years, now is the time to find out.
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.
Directed by Vanessa Roth, U.S.A. 2011, 81 mins. Produced by Dave Eggers and Nínive Calegari. Narrated by Matt Damon.
Facets Film Dialogue
Gretchen Weber (film star and former teacher), Ninive Calegari (former teacher and producer) and Peter Cunningham (Director for communications at the Department of Education) will be here for a Q&A after the 7 pm show on Wednesday, November 2nd.
Official site
NPR
NBC: screening discussion (video)
MSNBC interview (video)
Variety
Los Angeles Times
Film Journal
New York Times
NY Daily News
Village Voice
Showtimes:
Mon.-Thurs., Oct. 31 - Nov. 3, 7 & 9 pm
Sat.-Sun., Nov. 5-6 at 12:30 pm
Sat.-Sun., Nov. 12-13 at 12:30 pm
Tickets: