Class Enemy is a Slovenian drama film directed by Rok Biček that was released in 2013. The movie is set in a high school in Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia. It explores themes of teenage angst, grief, and blame in relation to the death of a student.
The film begins with a new teacher of German, Robert Zupan, arriving at a high school. The students are immediately hostile towards him, calling him authoritarian and boring. They refuse to engage in his lessons and constantly insult him. In contrast, Robert is very strict and uncompromising, demanding discipline and respect from his students.
The situation escalates when one of the female students in the class, Mojca, commits suicide. The news of her death shocks and deeply affects her classmates, who are quick to blame Robert for her death. They accuse him of being too rigid and unable to understand the struggles and emotions of young people. The hostility towards the teacher intensifies, and the students go on strike, refusing to attend classes until Robert leaves.
The story then unfolds, revealing the complex dynamics between the students and the teacher. Robert is not entirely to blame for Mojca's death as there were deeper underlying factors such as her personal struggles with depression and anxiety. The students themselves are also dealing with a variety of personal issues that affect their behavior towards Robert.
The film ultimately leaves a bitter taste in the mouth as the viewer realizes that the problems between the students and Robert could have been more effectively addressed with more empathy and open communication from both sides. The film shows the effect of trauma, from Mojca's death and how it affected her peers, teacher and even the school leadership.