I've never reviewed a film on IMDb but this felt necessary, because a lot of you completely miss the point. There's a difference between an honest look at mental Illness and validating the actions of a mentally ill person. This movie in no way says that what the title character is doing okay. It just had you watch the behavior and judge it as you will.

This is a sad story. As an artist, poet and highly creative person, it made me think about how difficult it is when we only value one type of intelligence or life experience. It does have psycho sexual themes but there's a difference between elevating /romanticizing a child, lack of boundaries, and being a pedophile.

It's uncomfortable, yeah. But obsession is. And obsession dissnr have to equate to sexual desire. The little boy in this story is not sexualized.

Maggie Gyllenhaal gives a stellar performance in The Kindergarten Teacher. This movie was a touch watch, but it was oh-so-worth it. It was very slow and methodical. I'm laughing at all the one-three star reviews because it's clearly people who were on their phone half the time or just haven't ever seen a movie which actually makes them feel something for a change. I don't normally post reviews because why should anyone care about my opinion, but I couldn't let this great movie get bogged down by fools who coooompletely missed the point the movie was trying to get across.

One of the holy grails of film is openness to varied interpretation. Despite its implied narrative unity, The Kindergarten Teacher (2017)is as open-ended as they come. What appears to be a predictable story of a bored 40-something teacher looking for self-actualisation slowly takes on dark themes of psycho-sexual obsession and acts of criminality.

Deep in a marital and career rut, kindergarten teacher Lisa Spinelli (Maggie Gyllenhaal) craves more than life has offered. Her teenage kids prefer social media than listening to her admonishments and her tolerant husband Grant (Michael Chernus) cannot understand why she is so restless. To ease her sexual and career frustration, Lisa attends an evening poetry class to immerse herself in literary beauty, hoping to become a writer despite a paucity of talent.

Her dreams are answered in the strangest of ways. One day in kindergarten, she overhears five-year old Jimmy (Parker Sevak) spontaneously create a short poem. To Lisa, this is an epiphany: if she cannot find great writing within, then her gift is to recognise sycg prodigious talent. She plagiarises Jimmy's poem and her evening class and teacher are impressed. Believing that only she can save Jimmy's talent from obscurity, she becomes obsessed with the boy and ingratiates herself into his broken family life.

This storyline description does not come close to capturing how disturbing Lisa's behaviour becomes. Today's global awareness of child abuse has rewritten the rules of how an adult can relate to a child. At first imperceptibly then manifestly obvious, Lisa bends then breaks all the rules for child contact. Her physical touch, excessive attention, and taking him where others cannot see, gradually dial-ups audience levels of discomfort. When Jimmy's father withdraws him from the kindergarten because of Lisa's behaviour, her complete breakdown and subsequent responses make it impossible to predict where her obsession might lead.

There are many horror and thriller films that pale alongside The Kindergarten Teacher: it is a superb example of how less can be more in filmmaking. Reliance on ambiguity and audience imagination creates a tense psycho-drama on the nature of psychotic obsession. Maggie Gyllenhaal gives an extraordinary yet understated performance; she dominates every scene and exudes normality with just a hint of madness. Young Parker Sevak is amazing in his innocence and bewilderment over the fuss he seems to cause. Tight direction keeps the narrative moving forward with well-measured escalating tension until it is impossible to guess what will happen next in this low-key but highly disturbing film.

Due to the excellence of its acting, direction and screenplay, 'The Kindergarten Teacher' is frequently uncomfortable to watch. It tells the story of Lisa, who has become constrained by the routine of her job, frustrated with her grouchy teenage kids and bored by an overweight husband. In response, she has enrolled in an adult education poetry writing program to broaden her experience of life. Unfortunately Lisa has little talent herself - and when she overhears one of her young pupils Jimmy composing a short poem, she presents it to her class teacher as her own work. When he expresses admiration for its strong imagery, she decides it's her duty to foster Jimmy's gift, which leads her into dangerous territory after she runs into parental opposition.

It's easy to see the film as a metaphor how yearning for truth and beauty can turn an ordinary person into an outcast, as Lisa's encouragement of Jimmy swiftly bypasses appropriate behavior and becomes obsessive. One of the film's crucial exchanges occurs when Lisa's poetry teacher reprimands her for being a dillettante, failing to see how she's willing to sacrifice everything for the art she loves, while he uses poetry as a means to seduce his students. At its conclusion, poetry has certainly broadened Lisa's experience of life, but not in a way she might have wished or anticipated.

This movie was pretty deep...at first watching it I thought it was pretty weird and def felt like the teacher went to far...but the last scene made it all make sense and solidified exactly why the teacher did what she did (although it still wasn't right) she seen something in the kid and was passionate about his talent. The last scene actually made me cry I'm so sensitive. I just wish she could have handled it differently and not have been so crazy

I watched this because I'm a big Maggie Gyllenhaal fan. I have never been disappointed in anything that she is in. When I saw her promoting this film I just had to see it. I will admit I was ready to give up on the movie after the first 20 minutes but I'm glad I didn't. It is a slow burn as you learn more about this Kindergarten teacher's private life and the nurturing relationship she has with her student. The teacher thinks she has a little Mozart on her hands and this child basically becomes an obsession of hers. This story really stirred a variety of emotions within me. Although my sons are adults now, I couldn't help thinking how I would have felt in a similar situation. This was very well written and Maggie Gyllenhaal's superb acting should earn her an Oscar nomination.

The 6.7/10 on IMDb is disappointing to me. This film is not exactly the genre I am typically drawn too, but it proceeded to instantly peek my interest by performing well fundamentally. The score was eerie when it needed to be, and it was chipper and enticing the rest of the time. There was nothing crazy in this film and it had no huge plot twists, but that didn't stop it from building and building until I just couldn't wait to see what happened next. The characterization was what really made The Kindergarten Teacher shine. Only two characters really needed development, and they got ALL of it. I was enthralled in their relationship. Give this film a chance even if you are not a fan of dramas.

Maggie never fails to impress!! She has always thrown herself into her characters completely, convincingly, and of course, so beautifully. She has excelled in everything from The Secretary (soooooo good) to this show. The little one was a star in his own right as well! I have read many reviews on here giving a 1 Star because the movie is disturbing- it was supposed to be! In the end the little boy sought to protect himself and he was successful! He felt empowered to do the right thing while also having empathy for her pain. I believe this flick to be a hands in the air 10!

I've been waiting a while for this, and it did not disappoint . "The Kindergarten Teacher" is a perfect drama. Maggie Gyllenhaal delivers a career best, and delivers some truly powerful moments. I would expect a drama like this to come from A24, but this is actually done by Netflix. There are some genuinely sad and dramatic moments that work very well to craft a beautiful take on the boring life of a teacher. I highly recommend, its on Netflix.

Well first i gotta say I loved seeing Maggie Gyllenhaal back to big screen ,, and it's safe to say she's still one of few actresses that is comfortable with her body ;) :D

The movie is really good ,, though it looked short ,, which implies somehow the plot was not fully structurally complete but still it was a near ideal drama of the obsessive mind to the wanna be ... that's what gave the movie more intense and thrill ingested in that Drama screenplay , and as i said even though it looked short yet it gave a not shocking but satisfactory ending.

The cast were all really good ,, the talented Maggie Gyllenhaal ,, always acing that desperate facial expression,, hopeful yet tense ,, the kid too "Parker Sevak" for a 5 year old first time on the business, he did really well.

final thought, yet again, Netflix is here to stay, and i think they are on the way to take over... Recommended .

Throughout the history of cinema, critics have made arguments for actors and actresses making bad films into good ones or vice versa, but I haven't had many of those experiences, personally. If a film is bad, it's within the filmmaking itself and the screenplay. A bad performance doesn't make a fantastic film automatically terrible in my opinion, but I can admit when a mediocre movie is accented by a stellar lead performance. While I didn't dislike The Kindergarten Teacher, I have to admit that it was a slightly frustrating experience. Due to how I felt the movie played out as a whole, I can't quite give this one a glaring recommendation, but if you're a fan of the dramatic genre, you may find yourself enjoying it more than myself. Here's why I can admit this is a very well-done movie, but why it didn't quite sit well with me.

Following Lisa Spinelli (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a teacher who believes one of her young students may be gifted, The Kindergarten Teacher is truly about the fact that this woman has conflicted emotions toward the entire situation. Young Jimmy Roy is the centrepiece for this story and although their scenes together are easily the best in the movie, the third act of this film feels very odd. Without ruining anything, this story takes a turn that had me strongly disliking the actions of the main character in Lisa, which left me not caring about any of the consequences in the final few moments. This film started out strong but lost my interest by the final act, and that's pretty much the opposite of what you'd want a movie to do. For that reason alone, my enthusiasm for this film is not very high.

Although I haven't seen Maggie Gyllenhaal's filmography to the point of saying I'm a huge fan of hers, her performance here is on the verge of incredible. As I mentioned, I thoroughly disliked her character, but that's also due to her fantastic performance. Whether she was at home with her boring husband and kids or sitting in class and making you hate her actions, I was enthralled by the way she was bringing this character to life. I can't see the movie itself being considered for many awards this year, but if for nothing else, this performance definitely deserves some attention by voters.

Having a child prodigy as the central focus of your film has always been an intriguing plot device in my opinion. There are so many ways your story can take a dramatic turn, but when the turn it takes is to simply exploit the talents of a young child for personal gain, I found that to be extremely distasteful as a premise. I understand that's what writer/director Sara Colangelo was going for (and quite well if I may add), but even though something is well made, it doesn't automatically make me enjoy what I'm watching.

In the end, The Kindergarten Teacher starts off as a very strong drama with believable performances all around and quite solid direction, but it spirals out of control by the third act. My personal feelings about the way this film ends may be getting the better of me here, but it's really hard to ignore how strongly I felt about a few moments that affected my overall enjoyment. I can clearly see the effort that went into this film and some viewers may love every bit of this movie, so I'll give it a mild recommendation with an asterisk on the conclusion of the movie. Due to the talent on and off the screen, I am slightly disappointed with how I feel about this movie overall.

What a movie , Maggie is an absolute star , she hold the whole movie up and made it with her acting even more interesting, this movie needed a good actor and if it was not her the movie would be an absolute rubbish, absolutely recommended!

This is a fascinating film, although not one that immediately appears as such. The Kindergarten Teacher is a patient and slow-moving watch, but it's one that creates an enthralling tension beneath the surface, as we see rather bizarre but fairly innocent behaviour get more and more out of hand, furthered by a riveting social perspective that adds a brilliant emotional depth to the main characters.

So, the main thing to know is that if you watch The Kindergarten Teacher, it's not a film that will come to you in the first ten minutes. In fact, it's all a little strange over the course of the first act, as we see Maggie Gyllenhaal's character being bizarrely obsessed with a five year old boy, yet with the story presenting it as if there's nothing abnormal about what's going on.

However, the story really does come good in the latter stages (which I will get into), but that doesn't mean that it's a boring watch early on either.

Above all, Maggie Gyllenhaal's performance is what makes The Kindergarten Teacher work right the way through, as she gives a down-to-earth and thoroughly convincing portrayal of a clearly kind-hearted woman, yet is able to subtly create a certain tension and unpredictability about her over the course of the first act - getting a little too close to her student, and coming out with rather uncharacteristic hippie-esque soundbites - something that really intrigued me as her character's true nature becomes clear throughout.

It's an undoubtedly excellent performance, and Gyllenhaal gives it the ambiguity and tension that the film really needs to make its central themes work.

Now, while that tension and uncertainty grows and grows as the teacher's behaviour becomes ever more bizarre, the film introduces some really fascinating central ideas that lend a stunning emotional depth to our main character, as well as the story as a whole.

At first, you're left a little bemused as to why this woman is acting in such a strange way, but there's a riveting peeling back of the layers throughout that show the stress and disappointment in her own life that has eventually led her to this point.

In that, the film has a little bit of a commentary on the nature of mid-life crises, while also bringing the widely relatable notion of feeling disappointed at your own failures, as we see a woman with ambition and a wider appreciation for the world, and yet has come up short time and time again, further frustrated by the rest of the world's seeming apathy towards the finer things of life, as she sees her own failings mirrored in the potential future of a young boy.

What's even more interesting about those central themes, however, is that they can be interpreted in a variety of ways, largely depending on how optimistic or pessimistic you are towards the nature of art and poetry, as well as your own personal take on ambitions and purpose in life in general.

As a result, The Kindergarten Teacher isn't a film that spoonfeeds you with a narrative showing our main character as simply good or bad, but instead makes you think with a more ambiguous portrayal, leaving you to fall back on your own interpretations to make a judgment of your own, something that I found absolutely fascinating and incredibly rewarding come the end of the film.

Overall, I was really rather impressed by The Kindergarten Teacher. It starts off in bizarre fashion, and although its main thematic core doesn't really come about until about halfway, there's a riveting dramatic tension that bubbles right from the start thanks to Maggie Gyllenhaal's fantastic performance, culminating in a drama that's both enthralling, and really makes you think.

Great respect to Maggie Gyllenhaal for taking on this role, it may be the most unique and complex one I've seen this year, and she does it justice and then some. It's an incredibly complicated role, one that could have been played in so many ways, and she delivers a tour de force.

I was very worried through the movie on whether this teacher student relationship would go too far. I am happy it did not. Although Gyllenhaal's character took special interest in a boy who could recite poetry from his soul, I found her character made me uncomfortable. Which tells me the acting is spot on. Your made to feel uneasy. She did an exceptional job!

Her extreamism is to the unreceptiveness of the boys single father to the fact that his son truely had a gift that could one day impact and inspire the world. She understood the reality of his talent and of our current generations zombification, and gave it her best shot to encourage and foster the child's raw tallent. Similar to reality, and tragic.. to especially be stopped by the unreceptive and gray conditioned father who also didn't care much for his sons developments days earlier, not even enough to see him though the mother is also gone.. but when he had the opportunity to allow his son development and record of his young astonishing intellect for the future.

Lisa first appears to be loving and comforting, with her touch being only to rub the backs of saddened children in a motherly way. This quickly escalates to a degree it caused emotional unrest - her touches becoming just long enough to be uncomfortable to watch. Once Lisa brings Jimmy into the bathroom during nap time for a private talk, it entered borderline predatory territory and only continues from there.

For those concerned with if this includes any type of physical child abuse, it does not, although that is certainly where it appeared Lisa was headed by the end of the movie.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is amazing and perfectly cast. She has a way of speaking where any other actress would feel out of place. It's as though any words escaping her mouth become sexual. She speaks and makes eye contact in an almost-unsettling way - purring like a kitten with each word without sounding like she is trying too hard.

This movie was hard to watch because I was so entirely convinced she was a child predator and this behavior is unsettling, but a very real part of life and the signs should not be ignored.

My title of this review says it all...it starts out slow (and really stays that way throughout), it starts out boring (and stays that way a lot throughout) but then it becomes disturbing with each passing moment realizing somethings not right...and the end....just heart-wrenching! I wanted to turn it off so many times because I didn't get it but I stuck it out and I'm glad I did....I think those that watch it to the end will agree it's worth it.

This is my first review of a movie ever because it's disheartening to read what some have written about this movie.

If you're soley into Ramboo and Adam Sandler movies this may not be for you. If you've never read/wrote a poem out of inquisition and wonder this may not be for you. If you've never tried to create out of ingenuity and you're more the critic type this may not be for you. If you're checking your phone during movies (and don't realize it) or your brain wonders off because your attention span is ten seconds this is not for you.

That's ok, there is good news. I hear chatter about super hero movies being popular. You should watch one of those movies.

If you are empathetic and more so genuinely sympathetic you may appreciate this work of art. There are layers to this film that touch upon society in many facets. If you read between the lines and appreciate life as it unfolds give this a try.

There was a time when a young tot named Mozart was primed and pandered to his every whim and need in his formative years today , this talent is squandered and wasted in portentous anti-climax, how can anyone who is not a fan of art not absolutely love the message here, it was well executed , well written , well acted and just came together beautifully. Yes I wish it was fleshed out a lil 'more , this would of made a great novella or mini-series , to get more poesy, to build the connection, to understand the backstory of the teacher to really bring everything together but we get the point , and its succinctness we are alive in its immensity, the pathos that would be are now writhing the abyss of bathos in our times... a supreme masterpiece.

Thanks to its stellar script and star, it masterfully builds tension and slowly amps up the creepiness from the most subtly discomforting of moments to the downright disturbing third act (Lisa's initially puzzling choice to let Jimmy read his poems being the only blip along the way). She's a fascinating character, wonderfully nuanced (see her kind of helping Jimmy at the end) and naturally developed (the smartly written supporting characters really help here). The sparse score was a great touch.

What plays out as a drama for the first hour, turns into an uncomfortable thriller, as a down on her luck teacher takes a special interest in a young bright student who has a knack for creating poems far beyond his age. Not seeing a trailer and knowing next to nothing before tuning in, there's never really a key as to where the film is going, both in structure and intention. It keeps you on your toes but it also creates more and more tension and a cringey feeling in your stomach when Maggie Gyllenhaal's 'Lisa' makes each move to get closer to her student. It's icky and both depressing how far she goes to make herself feel accomplished and worth something. So in that sense, this is a fascinating character study of psycho teacher, who just happens to also be incredibly kind and giving.

7.5/10

I've just watched this film. The story is about a kindergarten teacher who is not pleased with her life and tries to find a way to feel alive again. So, she tries to be a poet. Unfortunately, she doesn't have enough talent to go beyond in poetry. In the same time, she discovers one of her students' poetry talent. With this talented student, she believes that she can go beyond and make a difference in life.

Maggie Gyllenhaal personated this obsessed teacher character delightfully. The relationship between the teacher and the student is plainly described and this relationship makes the film un-put-downable.

I watched the movie which left me thinking about it. Then I read some reviews. Then I thought about it again. I disagree with some of the reviews, but that is for a movie discussion club, not IMDB review. And you would certainly want to talk about it.

Very interesting concept, and a beautiful ending. The critique of society's general stance on the value of art is a bit on the nose, but the teacher's psychology is well portrayed, even if the pace of her journey speeds up a lot suddenly. What was totally unnecessary is the dynamic between the poetry teacher and kindergarten teacher, and the long held scenes. It felt like they're there just to extend this feature to a fell length movie. I think it would have been better to have the pace (the big jumps) of the last 10 minutes throughout the whole second half. This story would have worked better as a short story, or in 60 minute format. For example as an episode of Black Mirror (even though, this is not about technology induced problems, well... not directly).