Detachment: Tribeca Review

2:39 PM PDT 4/26/2011 by Frank Scheck

Director Tony Kaye's depiction of a substitute teacher's hellish experience in a public high school makes his "American History X" seem lighthearted by comparison.

NEW YORK — Movies have been depicting the horrors of the American educational system for more than half a century, from The Blackboard Jungle to Dangerous Minds and others too numerous to mention. But none has reached quite the nightmarish depths of Detachment, the latest effort from cinematic provocateur Tony Kaye. This film depicting the hellish experiences of a high school substitute teacher makes such previous works by the filmmaker as American History X seem positively lighthearted by comparison. Commercial prospects look dicey, but there’s sure to be kudos for the film, which recently received its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.