The Substitute

The Substitute (2007): Here is a superior Danish film that, much like the excellent Swedish film “Let the Right One In’, looks at its subject matter from a child’s perspective. The film deals with a class full of junior high types who are having serious problems involving a most unusual substitute teacher brilliantly played by an actress named Paprika Steen. If the nomenclature in this movie isn’t strange enough, her character’s name is Ulla Harm, quite appropriate as it turns out. The class is convinced she is up to no good and tries to get their parents to get rid of her, but she charms them all and has the minister of education visit the school to underwrite his support for her methods. As usual for these types of films, the kids are correct but all get railroaded into taking a bus trip to Paris with the sub, from which they don’t expect to return. The suspense builds and there is also quite a bit of humor in this film. Those expecting a gore fest will be disappointed as this is not a typical horror or suspense film. It is almost an adult children’s movie or possibly can be considered a modern fairy tale. While not original, it should be enjoyable for most folks out there. I recommend watching it with the original Danish soundtrack and English subtitles to get the full joy of Ms. Steen’s turn as the sub. She can change from sweet talk to cajoling to insulting, to threatening or yelling and back to innocent requesting in just a few seconds to get the kids into the shape she wants them. The movie substitutes an R rating for: multiple chickens, chicken eating, feathers flying, abrupt bus stopping, mind reading, bullet proof faculty, shrinking psychologist, Danish oath hurling, and especially for the metallic minister of education.