The Teacher review – a Palestinian educator is troubled by his radical past

Here is a drama-thriller from British-Palestinian film-maker Farah Nabulsi, set in the West Bank: a geopolitical vale of angry tears. There is some pretty broad-brush storytelling here, but it is really well acted, particularly by its male lead, Saleh Bakri, who might be remembered from his performance in Elia Suleiman’s autobiographical film The Time That Remains, playing the director’s father Fuad. (I also remember him in the 2013 Sicilian mob thriller Salvo.)

Here Bakri plays Basem, a hardworking, idealistic and careworn Palestinian teacher of English, estranged from his wife (who is now living in Hebron) and troubled by his past. Basem has evolved away from his former life of radical resistance, now espousing nonviolent action; he is therefore deeply worried by a neighbouring boy and pupil Adam (Muhammad Abed Elrahman) – almost a son to him – whose house has been bulldozed and brother shot dead by a settler, and who now wants to take bloody revenge. Meanwhile, Basem is starting to fall poignantly in love with a volunteer teacher from the UK called Lisa (Imogen Poots), cheerfully nicknamed “Miss United Nations” by the pupils, and his whole story unfolds in parallel with that of a kidnapped IDF soldier, whose freedom is contingent on the release of over a thousand Palestinian prisoners.

Perhaps the drama and its issues are a little small screen, and there is scope for wondering if the film quite represents the reality of what it would take for a single person to guard, feed and generally see to a secret hostage all day. But Nabulsi hits the dramatic beats with confidence and Bakri has genuine distinction; his sensitivity and intelligence command every scene.

• The Teacher is in UK and Irish cinemas from 27 September