Caught between her ideals and the school system, the consequences of her actions threaten to break her. Carla is a dedicated, idealistic young teacher in her first job at a German middle school. Her relaxed rapport with her seventh-grade students is put under stress when a series of thefts occur at the school, and a staff investigation leads to accusations and mistrust among outraged parents, opinionated colleagues, and angry students. Caught in the middle of these complex dynamics, Carla tries to mediate – but the more she tries to do everything right, the more desperate her position becomes. “The Teachers Lounge” is a study in power dynamics, with themes of truth, justice, racism, respect, and children’s rights that demonstrates how individuals are worn down between entrenched positions.