pupil Archives - Jeremy C. Processing

Director – John G. Avildsen – 1989 – US – Cert. PG – 112m

Review written on spec at the time of the film’s UK release and never previously published. The first film I saw in this franchise, and clearly not the place to start, since it had reached a low ebb by this point.

The third in the series, this one has the annoyingly good-natured Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) back in the title role and is punctuated throughout its running length by inane music and image sequences in which Daniel LaRusso imitates his mentor Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki “Pat” Morita) undergoing various physical slow-mo karate exercises. These are suitably shallow as to offend any true karate fanatic with half an ounce of brain; any other viewer is liable to be terminally bored by them.

The plot concerns the defeat of stereotypically evil Karate School owner/instructor Kreese (Martin Kove) being defeated in combat by Mr. Miyagi and becoming bent on revenge, i.e. by making his pupil LaRusso taste physical pain during defeat at a big karate tournament. Only trouble is, Daniel is persuaded by Miyagi not to take part. The film travels an utterly predictable route through various attempts by the baddies to get LaRusso to change his mind.… Read the rest

The Teachers’ Lounge
(Das Lehrerzimmer)

Director – Ilker Çatak – 2023 – Germany – Cert. 12a – 98m

**** 1/2

A new teacher at a school where petty thefts have been taking place for some time makes some bad decisions which put her in a very difficult place – out in UK cinemas on Friday, April 12th

Schoolboy Lukas (Okar Mats Zickur) is being questioned about recent thefts in the school. Does he have any suspicions as to which of the pupils might be doing this? A girl sits beside him, a class representative, to make sure everything is being done properly. “You don’t have to speak if you don’t want to”, teacher Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesh from September 5, Tim Fehlbaum, 2024; The White Ribbon, Michael Haneke, 2009) assures him. Nevertheless, her male colleague pressurises the boy. First, he gives him a printed list of names with checkboxes and asks the child to tick any relevant boxes. When that doesn’t work, he goes down the list with his finger and asks the boy simply to nod at any suspicious name. He gets a nod.

Teaching in class, with a number of the kids stumped by the current algebra problem, star pupil Oskar Kuhn (Leonard Stettnisch) works through a proof on the blackboard, way in advance of the capabilities his age would suggest.… Read the rest