Writer/Director Hannah Fidell, "A Teacher"

Photo by Richard Koek

Hannah Fidell’s second film, “A Teacher” doesn’t shy away from controversy. By taking a somewhat objective view of a female high school teacher in a sexual relationship with one of her male students, “A Teacher” is as more a portrait of a woman tangled in a destructive relationship than a searing portrait of a sex offender.

Fidell spoke about her lead character, her take on their relationship in the film, and why she didn’t make the film in Indiana.

"A Teacher" is playing a two-week run at the Indiana State Museum IMAX Theater (650 W. Washington St) starting Sept. 27. Go to www.imaxindy.com for information on tickets.

The first thing that stands out about "A Teacher" is the provocative nature of the subject matter. Can you talk a little about your choice to make your protagonist a high school teacher engaging in a relationship with one of her students?

A female teacher/male student affair can be found in the headlines on any given day. I thought it would be interesting to explore since our society is already slightly obsessed with the topic. I always knew that I wanted the film to be about a female teacher as opposed to a male teacher in a heterosexual relationship. There is something about that concept that is so perverse yet completely idolized.

This movie is very much a psychological study of a woman caught up in an unhealthy relationship. Can you talk a little about the process you went through writing the movie with respect to Diana as she progresses through the relationship? It almost seems to devolve into obsession.

I always knew that I wanted this story to be about a woman in crisis - so it seemed clear from the start that by the end of the film her world would have to be flipped and she would have to be left in a pretty terrible state. It is absolutely obsession - which is driven by the truth of the matter that she has SO much more at stake than he does in the relationship...there can never be an equal playing field with them because of this. I looked at it as not just obsession, but addiction.

You don't shy away from showing the characters being intimate, but you also make liberal use of darkness in these scenes. Can you talk about your use of lighting in these scenes? How do you feel they represent the characters and their relationship thematically?

They have to constantly sneak around in order to see one another...so by having to live their relationship in the shadows metaphorically, it seemed appropriate that we make a literal translation of that and light the scenes to match the illicit nature of their love affair.

There has been some buzz about this film from the internet film community. How have you handled this additional attention? Do you feel the subject matter has contributed to that attention?

I'd like to think that the buzz is not just about the subject matter but also about the filmmaking (laughs). But certainly I knew that because of how controversial the idea of the teacher/student affair is, the film would inevitably grab people’s attention. In terms of handling additional attention, it’s been fun!

Can you talk a little about the film community in Indiana? You went to IU, but obviously your career has taken you elsewhere. Do you wish there was a larger film presence in Indiana?

I really wanted to shoot my next film in Bloomington but unfortunately there are zero tax incentives for shooting in Indiana so I had to shoot in Austin, TX. They do offer them there. I actually got so riled up one day that I started calling my former professors and friends who might have some influence to see if we could all get together to try and get a bill introduced into the state assembly. I just don't see any negatives to having tax incentives. It creates jobs and brings in money. Look at what it’s done for Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Georgia, Michigan and Illinois. Come on people, let’s do this. We need more stories that take place in Indiana! It’s been a long time since “Breaking Away” and “Hoosiers.”

What was the biggest thing you learned during the making of this film? What did you learn about yourself while making it?

I felt I became a stronger filmmaker and storyteller - and I hope that every project I work on makes me feel that way! But I also learned about the entire distribution process...that was all new to me before. And to get into specifics, I also learned that I can function on very little sleep and alone time...two things I thought that were absolutely necessary to performing well (at least for me).