Detachment (2011)
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A substitute teacher finds himself navigating the complex emotional lives of his students and a young runaway.
The story
Henry Barthes, a high-school substitute teacher, is called in for a one-month assignment at a school where many students perform at a low grade level. During his first class, he observes acts of hostility and becomes acquainted with a student named Meredith. Outside of school, Henry's life becomes complicated by his involvement with his grandfather, who suffers from dementia, and his encounter with Erica, a teenage runaway. As he attempts to navigate these various relationships and the challenges of his role as an educator, he becomes a significant figure for those around him.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Henry Barthes, a substitute teacher, takes a one-month assignment at a high school. He becomes a mentor to his students, including Meredith, who struggles with suicidal thoughts. Outside of school, Henry cares for his grandfather with dementia and takes in a runaway girl named Erica. After his grandfather passes away, Henry tells Erica he can no longer care for her and sends her to a foster home. Later, a misunderstanding leads to a false accusation of misconduct against him by Meredith. On his final day of teaching, Meredith commits suicide by poisoning herself. Following her death, Henry visits Erica in her foster home, where she welcomes him.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 100
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Tony Kaye
- Writers
- Carl Lund · writer
- Cast and characters
- Adrien Brody · Henry Barthes; Marcia Gay Harden; Christina Hendricks; William Petersen; Bryan Cranston; Tim Blake Nelson; Betty Kaye; Sami Gayle; Lucy Liu; Blythe Danner; James Caan
- Genres
- psychological drama
- Themes
- mentorship; mental health; caregiving; isolation
- Premise and plot tags
- education; drama
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 52 · review count: 20
- Awards and nominations
- Audience Award · Best Foreign Language Film · win
- Production trivia
- The film was shot on location at schools in Long Island, New York.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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