‘The Kindergarten Teacher’ Trailer: Maggie Gyllenhaal Has Dark Obsession With Poetry

Maggie Gyllenhaal has a dangerous obsession with poetry, teases the official trailer for Netflix drama The Kindergarten Teacher. 

In the trailer for the upcoming film, Gyllenhaal is a kindergarten teacher named Lisa, who, after noticing one of her students recite an original poem, becomes engulfed in nurturing his talent to ensure he becomes the next “young Mozart.” 

“The sun hits her yellow house. It is almost like a sign from God,” 5-year-old Jimmy (Parker Sevak) is overheard reciting by memory, forcing Lisa to soon travel down a dark hole of idolization. Obsessed with modernizing Jimmy’s talent, Lisa begins contacting the boy outside school hours and even taking him from a school playground to spend the day together.  

“Talent is so fragile and rare, and our culture does everything to crush it,” Gyllenhaal argues, defending her eagerness to connect with her new prodigy. 

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'The Kindergarten Teacher': Film Review | Sundance 2018

The drama premiered during Sundance last year, with writer-director Sara Colangelo taking home Sundance’s directing award in the dramatic film category. It was also nominated for the festival’s grand jury prize. Teacher is a remake of the acclaimed Israeli film by the same name, written and directed by Nadav Lapid.

Apart from starring in the film, Gyllenhaal acts as a producer along with Talia Kleinhendler and Osnat Handelsman-Keren of Pie Films, and Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray of Maven Pictures. The film was financed and co-produced by Pia Pressure, Farcaster Films, Imagination Park Entertainment, Manhattan Productions and PaperChase Films.

Rosa Salazar, Anna Baryshnikov, Michael Chernus and Gael Garcia Bernal also star. 

The Kindergarten Teacher hits Netflix on Oct. 12.