The Forest for the Trees

Bursting with idealism, Melanie Pröschle (Eva Lobau) leaves home to start her teaching career, armed with alternative methods and bright-eyed optimism. On her first day of classes, she gives an ambitious speech, saying that she wants to offer a "breath of fresh air" to the school. Instead, Melanie finds rejection from her colleagues, torture from her students and loneliness in her personal life.

"German writer-director Maren Ade’s 2003 debut offers the kind of incisive portrait of female loneliness and raw anger that is rarely seen in contemporary cinema... Recommended." - Video Librarian