In the comedic style of The Office and the films of Christopher Guest, CHALK is a spirited portrait of life in the trenches of that most honorable and frustrating profession...teaching.
It's the start of a memorable new year at Harrison High. The self-conscious Mr. Stroope is convinced that his time has come: this year he will be furnished with the golden title of "Teacher of the Year". That is, if his smarter students will just stop using words he doesn't understand.
Peek into Mr. Lowrey's History class and you'll see that he's struggling to even call himself a teacher. Woefully inept due to a complete lack of both experience and social skills, he earnestly stutters his way through class. The only interaction his students offer him is when they steal his chalk.
Men aren't much interested in the spunky and officious Coach Webb, but as she says,"not all P.E. teachers are gay," and she pines for some romantic company. Her former best friend, the newly-appointed assistant principal, Mrs. Reddell, doesn't seem to have time for her either, as her new power-post is all-consuming; battling egos, and enduring teacher conferences and her lighthouse- obsessed boss. Coach Webb wonders if her former confidante has forgotten just how hard teaching really is.
Director Mike Akel provides a rare and realistic teacher's perspective into the absurd, provocative and occasionally volatile world of public education. In a country where 50% of teachers quit within the first three years, CHALK delivers an enormous dose of heart, hilarity, and hope for America's most important institution.
@lovesmusik1 I think it might be 'the turns' by Jez, but I'm not sure, can't find the song anywhere.
rae3604 1 month ago
Does ANYONE know the name of the song that plays when the awkward teacher just had a fight with one of the students and takes a walk?
The lyrics are something like, "I'll wait at the port, dock 21 car 24. I'm ready to board, so take me away to so much more..."
lovesmusik1 3 months ago
Sadly, this well-cast minor movie depicts quite accurately the inanity, incompetency, ineffectuality, insipidity, cattiness, pettiness, frumpiness, anti-intellectualism, and venality typical of American public school teachers and administrators--yuck!
en9nui 7 months ago
director mike akel is a boss. my filmmaking teacher
KuZoProductions 2 years ago
Awesome movie!, Maby I'm just biassed b/c I was in it...lol
datboymatt1988 2 years ago
I loved this film! It's like "The Office" set in a public high school. Definitely worth seeing.
FilmTX 3 years ago