The Kindergarten Teacher is a 2018 drama film directed by Sara Colangelo, based on the 2014 Israeli film of the same name by Nadav Lapid. The film stars Maggie Gyllenhaal as Lisa Spinelli, a dedicated kindergarten teacher who becomes obsessed with one of her students, Jimmy, after she hears him recite a poem he has written.
Lisa becomes convinced that Jimmy is a prodigy and begins to steal his poems and pass them off as her own at her poetry class. She also starts taking him to private lessons with a famous poet, contradicting his parents' wishes for Jimmy to have a childhood.
As Lisa's obsession with Jimmy grows, she begins to neglect her family and her own interests, risking everything to nurture Jimmy's talent. Her actions become increasingly erratic and questionable, leading to a dramatic and emotional climax.
The Kindergarten Teacher explores themes of creativity, obsession, and the boundary between nurturing and exploitation. Maggie Gyllenhaal delivers a nuanced and powerful performance as Lisa, capturing the character's complexity and inner turmoil. The film received critical acclaim and was praised for its thought-provoking story and strong performances.