WATCH: In the era of “Don’t Say Gay”, this film about a teacher outed by angry parents feels more relevant than ever
TikToker who shall not be named continues to dox teachers, it can feel like an especially precarious time to be out and queer in education.That makes the story at the heart of the upcoming Argentinian film The Teacher all the more urgent.In the small, sleepy town of Ucacha—located in central Argentina—Natalio (Diego Velázquez) is passionate about his job teaching elementary school students, beloved by the kids and their parents alike.Subscribe to our daily newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.But, one day, he gets a call from his old friend, Juani (Ezequiel Tronconi), in desperate need of somewhere to stay.
The two have some history, and Natalio—clearly still harboring feelings—finds it impossible to say no.At first, Natalio maintains that he’s just doing a friend a favor.
However, the more they’re seen together in public, the more the rumors start to fly, especially as the gregarious Juani can’t help but flirt with most men and women he comes into contact with.Soon, the gossip is all over town, and parents are beginning to complain to the school’s principal about Natalio’s “new friend” and their behavior in public.
With his livelihood on the line, Natalio is faced with some tough decisions and worries about letting down the impressionable young minds who look up to him.The Teacher was co-directed by Julian Dabien and Cristina Tamagnini, and was written by Tamagnini, inspired by a story very close to her own heart:“Between the years 2000-2001 the teacher, Eric Sattler, had to leave the town where he lived and worked all his life as a result of complaints that the parents of his students took to the [principal,]” she shares in a press statement.
