Comments on: Netflix The Kindergarten Teacher Movie Ending Explained

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 23:13:52 +0000

Watched the US remake, then the Israeli original. Liked the Israeli film a little better (especially the dance scene near the end, with the uncredited song). Re-watched the Israeli original, then re-watched the US remake. Still prefer the Israeli original; check it out. But both are good.

By: Ryissa

Ryissa — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 15:13:32 +0000

Maggie Gyllenhaal went on to act in “The Lost Daughter” and “The Best Sumner Ever” after this.

She’s been focussing more on producing and writing for the last decade. Something she’s hardly a list talent.

By: Phil Bracco

Phil Bracco — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 22:49:41 +0000

I find it interesting that rereading all these comments from 6+ years ago ( when it first came out), that it was the last movie Maggie Gyllenhaal made as an actor.
Can’t help wondering what it all means when talent like hers is just ignored.
I guess a woman in her late 40’s can’t bring it anymore like she did in her early 40s ?

By: Kaylie Osmon

Kaylie Osmon — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 21:43:56 +0000

I agree with you. And that is it…there is no need to carry on about why.

By: J

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 06:41:08 +0000

What about Lisa’s affair with Simon ? She is a married woman and has an affair with her poetry teacher ? What kind of morality is this ? I would never trust such a person to take care of my kid.

By: McKinley

McKinley — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 22:06:55 +0000

Love your take. Just finished it five minutes ago, and the complexities are certainly difficult to digest. I’m like you. Am I really celebrating a kidnapper? Yes, her overly motherly nature was extremely weird, but he had no one nurturing his talent excluding her. Then when she was yelling at him through the door saying that no one would care about him anymore. Damn, I was like she’s a freak, but at the same time I was like she’s right… the last line gutted me for sure. It really does make you think about how many child prodigies have been in the world but were ultimately stamped out because of lack of support.

By: Thom

Thom — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 06:46:27 +0000

It appears to me that much of what you took from the movie regarded Lisa fantasy.
The movie is about child abuse by projection. It isn’t about genius. There is no genius here outside of Lisa’s fantasy and longing. This is why Jimmy’s poems were ridiculous. “police approaching the dining hall” “out there world war three” (from memory – sorry)
from a 5 yr old. seriously?
This is not evidence of genius. It is evidence that she might not be the first to abuse him.
I appreciate that Lisa’s fantasy evolved from valid considerations and pertinent issues, but at the end of the day it’s all it was … fantasy.
Jimmy deserved better.

By: inkstrobe

inkstrobe — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 21:10:16 +0000

I love all the questions that this film (and article and comments) can stir up! The film is ultimately about Lisa, but I was struck by how the film portrays art vs. artist vs. audience. Maggie Gyllenhaal was describing a screening in which the audience laughed at her character, but this was during a scene that included an audience laughing at that character, so I think the real audience could have been taking a cue from the filmed audience. I think that scene was written with some intentional absurdity. It is easy to laugh at things kids say. It is also easy for someone to feel hurt if they are feeling particularly vulnerable, like Lisa (and Maggie), when they feel like the laughter is at their expense, even when it isn’t.
Most people reading this probably live close enough to a city where they could attend a poetry reading at least once a week if they wanted to. Results may vary, but I do not typically enjoy art as much in larger groups, one piece after another. Also, if an audience knows something about the artist, it will affect how they experience it. Overhearing the poem spontaneously spoken aloud from a 5 year old child is much more of a precious magical experience than simply reading it on a screen or hearing it recited by an adult in a poetry class, especially if you know she did not write it.
I think it is ironic that The Kindergarten Teacher is a remake of a film both written and directed by Nadav Lapid. How does that change the experience of the final product? Maggie Gyllenhaal and director Sara Colangelo surely deserve the praise they give each other, but it seems like Nadav Lapid really did the heavy lifting. It was his creative spark that was nurtured and amplified despite all the people that couldn’t understand him.

By: Phil Bracco

Phil Bracco — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 14:22:37 +0000

The arguments and point of views are indeed fascinating, and valid points in every single on of them.
The sheer number of take aways from this film are fodder for a great piece of cinema.
My take, however, is that Maggie Gyllenhaal and her truly magnificent turn as Lisa, is the catalyst of all the narratives.
Without her earnest and wonderful realizations, and brilliant, empathetic obsession is what acting ( and direction) is simply what making movies is all about.
Applause for Ms. Gyllenhaal…may her talents be used to this degree often, and not overlooked like Jimmy’s were.