13/08/2024 - Bálint Szimler’s school drama questions the outdated methods of the Hungarian educational system by employing a masterful docufiction approach, albeit without achieving a full-blooded discussion

Bearing in mind that Bálint Szimler received his early education in the USA before returning to his native Hungary, it is no coincidence that he chose the clash between conservative and liberal approaches in education as a central theme for his debut feature, Lesson Learned [+see also:
trailer
interview: Bálint Szimler
film profile], which has just premiered in the Cineasti del Presente competition of the Locarno Film Festival. Demonstrating a knack for fine psychological observation in his construction of cinematic imagery, Szimler completely immerses the viewer’s gaze and attention in the school environment by using claustrophobic framing in interiors, an all-encompassing camera in exteriors, close-ups that end up feeling nearly intimidating, and mostly non-professional actors. The result is an absorbing, hyper-realistic piece of cinema that convincingly proves its author’s views but fails to allow for the possibility that they could be questioned, thus missing the opportunity to provoke a necessary debate on contemporary education.

Ten-year-old Palkó (a convincing Paul Mátis, using only his eyes and gestures) has recently relocated from Germany to his home country of Hungary and is struggling to adapt to the strictly regulated school environment after being accustomed to a more easy-going educational approach. Used to speaking in class, eating whenever he likes, doing things at his own pace and resisting orders, he is quickly labelled as the “difficult kid”, especially by sports teacher Ákos (music manager Ákos “Dadan” Kovács), who eventually loses his temper and strikes him. This incident makes Palkó even more stubborn and self-isolated. Meanwhile, the similarly new literature teacher Juci (theatre actress Anna Mészöly) tries not only to comfort Palkó and gain his trust, but also to suggest a different approach to engaging the students, one that goes beyond merely following the curriculum. She seeks to discover what can genuinely capture the children’s interest in a hyperactive, consumerist era where boredom is a sin and discipline feels like a dirty word. However, she remains as isolated as Palkó in her quiet rebellion.

Apart from portraying a stifling school environment, Szimler includes details from the broader surroundings as well – unempathetic parents whose tempers flare during a meeting, grumpy neighbours who cannot tolerate noisy children, budget unpredictability in education, dysfunctional bureaucracy, and nationalistic narratives that rear their heads sporadically. This adds to an overall hostile atmosphere in which contemporary, conservatively ruled Hungary is raising its future generations. But can the implementation of liberal education, which the film seems to advocate for, truly improve this society?

Lesson Learned inevitably evokes comparisons with the Norwegian film Beware of Children [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dag Johan Haugerud
film profile], an earlier cinematic exploration of contemporary education but coming from Scandinavia, where the school system was liberalised long ago. That film took the time to measure the results by analysing the pros and cons through discussions between teachers and parents from different backgrounds and with different ideological beliefs. While Lesson Learned suggests that Hungary still needs to catch up with European standards, Norway is already moderate in its enthusiasm for democratic methods and seems to be reconsidering permissiveness. In this context, Lesson Learned is certainly a relevant take on pedagogical models, but it feels somewhat one-sided and overly convinced of a single, still under-researched, perspective on schooling that has yet to prove its long-term efficacy. If it were more of a polemic than a pamphlet, this otherwise profoundly observant and cinematically idiosyncratic film could have been a true masterpiece.

Lesson Learned was produced by Hungary’s Boddah and CineSuper in co-production with Proton Cinema, Good Kids, KMH Film, FocusFox, Pioneer Pictures, FilmPartners & PartnerFilms, 235 Productions and Umbrella. Lights On handles international sales