"I've found some pupils that hate school." "You help them do homework every night?" "Yes." "I'd rather stay here than go home." "Jeppe's left home, you're all alone and you don't seem too well." "You want a better school?" "Yes!" "And free fags?" "Yes!" "Who do you vote for?" "Kareem!" "I'm a dumb wog, but not that dumb." "Niklas wins." "His mother's the mayor." "Hi." "We haven't met." "Alice Verner." "Rita Madsen." "Making Helle head was a big mistake." "So what the school needs is a competent and vigorous type?" "You're helping Helle?" "Yup." "But you could send the strong and vigorous guy by tonight." "No, I don't think so." "I don't think I can come up with more before the break." "But before you go" "I promised our head to pass these out." "It's a pamphlet about lice." "Yes, it is, and I know I've said it a million times, but it's important that you wash and comb your pretty locks." "So tell Mum and Dad..." "Yes, Lea?" "Why do we all have to do it?" "If we don't all get rid of the lice, they'll come back," "I'll have to call the lice police and that means trouble." "That's not what I meant." "My mum says the lice stem from Anna." "OK, but your mum has absolutely no idea about that, does she?" "I'm actually pretty sure that we all have lice." "You, me, Anna, everybody." "I haven't got lice!" "There's only one way to find out." "Stick this in your bags and give it to Mum and Dad when you get home." "OK?" "And Lea, I don't wanna hear anymore of that." "Off you go." "This is the only important thing in your lives now." "Except for homework, of course." "Get combed, alright." "Death to lice." "Karl, you do realize that the school day's not over yet, right?" "Karl?" "Hi, Liv." "What are you doing here?" "I'm just picking up Karl." "We have to be somewhere." "But he's got more classes today." "I know." "It's important." "He forgot this." "It's a pamphlet about lice." "We better bring that along, then." "And remember to read it, too." "It's important he gets a thorough combing." "Yes, of course." "We will." "Hold on, I just have to..." "Bloody hell." "Right..." "What's this?" "A magic lunch box containing the secret of eternal youth." "Huh?" "It's a pamphlet about lice." "We take really good care of his hair." "He's not back before Wednesday." "I haven't heard anything about that." "No, well, Monday he's going to a casting for a film and Tuesday he's doing Magasin's Christmas catalogue." "He shouldn't." "That's none of your concern." "It bloody well is." "Come on, Karl." "Oi, you forgot this." "Yes." "Alright." "What did you say it was again?" "Good morning." "Perhaps once I've got my coffee." "Did you hand out the pamphlets?" "Yup." "It's gonna work just as well as last year." "Did it work then?" "No." "Good morning, Rita." "Good morning, Karl." "Did you speak to her?" "Is he absent a lot?" "He's doing a Christmas catalogue." "Well done!" "As an after-school job." "I'll speak to her." "Thank you." "Two wee items before we go." "It's time to evaluate my effort as a principal." "How do think..." "Not now." "How you think I've done." "I'll pass out questionnaires that are absolutely anonymous and go straight to the children and youth department at city hall." "If you wanna say something that doesn't necessarily involve the district, you're welcome to tell me." "Not in plenum." "Right." "And the last item." "I'm meeting with the mayor, Alice Verner, to discuss possible cutbacks." "So they grant us extra funds when it looks pretty in the press and then roll it back the following year." "Fabulous." "I'm not stoked about it either, not at all." "Which is why I'd like a discussion partner from the teaching staff." "Then we could discuss where cuts would do the least possible harm." "That could be you, Rita." "I'll do it." "I'd like to help." "I have experience from Rønnegårdsskolen." "That's cool with me." "Well, thanks, Jonas." "You're welcome." "Great." "Yeah." "Right." "Then I'm off to meet with the mayor." "Have a nice day, everybody." "That's good." "I'll see you, bye." "Jonas, isn't it?" "Yes, that's correct." "Weren't you principal the last time?" "At Rønnegaard before the merger." "Right." "And now you've gone back to being a teacher?" "How admirable." "I was found wanting, I guess." "In my recollection, you were well solid and good." "I was a competent manager." "Was?" "Yes." "A competent and effective manager." "If I'm allowed." "More competent than your colleague, I imagine." "And loyal as well." "How did the meeting go?" "Helle said you are sparring with her as to how to handle the situation?" "Yes, that's right." "Cuts can be a bit tricky." "They tend to piss off the staff." "But she's up for evaluation soon as well, isn't she?" "You're well informed." "You have to be in my position." "Let's say I wanted to get rid of a head, then I need well formed arguments in order to replace her." "It's hard to get rid of a principal that... the staff are fond of." "I'll see you, Jonas." "Hey, Niklas." "Hi, honey!" "Honey." "Bugger..." "Niklas!" "What's up?" "My mum." "Hi." "Hi, honey." "What are you doing here?" "I'm working." "OK." "And who's this?" "A new friend?" "No, we're not, it's just that Rita's given us an assignment." "We have to do a poem." "She's cut up an old poem, and we have to put it back together in a new way." "We're presenting it Friday, and it's to teach us about collaboration." "Hi, I'm Alice." "Kareem." "I'm Niklas's mother." "Yes..." "It's important to learn about collaborating." "Right, Kareem?" "Yes." "You should take that seriously." "Right." "Yeah, well, we're going to our place to do it." "That sounds good." "You figure out dinner yourself, right?" "Bye, boys." "Whoa." "Oh, boy." "Whoa, it's big." "Well..." "Bloody hell, what a view." "Right?" "This is your room?" "Yes." "Cool." "I guess being mayor pays really well." "Well, my dad paid for most of it." "What does your dad do?" "Should we do the poem, then?" "I don't wanna spend all my time on a stupid poem." "But you do it yourself if you wanna." "But..." "OK, then." "Hi, Rita." "Hi." "I heard that you spoke to Karl's mother." "She said you yelled at her." "Yelled?" "I was just being clear." "You don't tend to be gentle." "I just wanna be able to teach my pupils." "I understand." "I'll get the Karl situation sorted." "Are you heading home?" "Don't hesitate to let me know if..." "I'm fine." "Our kids are gonna be the best educated generation ever in Denmark." "So we're going to make it simpler and clearer." "Pupils will have more classes." "We raise the quality..." ""Effective remedy for killing head lice and their eggs with just one treatment of 15 minutes."" "Trees..." "laughing..." "it can't be soldier..." "Gun... gun... gonna..." "Oi, Lea, where are you going?" "You're working with Anna." "I don't wanna." "It's gross." "It's her lice." "You have no idea about that." "My mum says so." "Right, zip it and get back to your seat next to Anna." "No!" "Anna." "Cool." "Now I'm sitting here." "I'm gonna have a word with Lea." "Don't." "They all think it's my fault." "Did your parents comb you?" "Yes." "It's only because I'm not wearing the right brands and makeup." "Girls can be mean that way." "But you're gonna grow out of it in about 50 or 60 years." "Lea." "Off you go." "No." "Anna's been combed and there weren't any lice, so the coast is clear." "No, she's just saying that." "Listen up, we're gonna do this in a totally different way." "Do I have lice?" "No..." "You're free to go." "Next." "Looking good." "You can run off." "Next." "Right, Anna." "Let's have a look." "You're clean." "You can go back to the rest." "No lice." "Bah." "Next." "It's time for evaluation." "Evaluation questionnaires." "Here you go." "Thanks." "Perhaps you'd like two?" "Jonas." "Yes." "A questionnaire." "We're on for tomorrow?" "Yes, we are." "I'll see you." "Right." "Right, Karl, let's have a look." "You've got lice." "Did they comb you at home?" "Yesterday?" "No." "Have they combed you at all?" "Since the lice returned?" "Mum and Dad tend to forget stuff like that." "Are they picking you up today?" "Is it alright if I walk you home?" "Mm-hmm." "Christ. "My boss has a clear vision of the direction the workplace should be heading the coming years."" "Let's hope so." "You're alright." "You've done plenty to improve the athletics facilities." "Yes, but it had to be done." "How are you gonna get kids to exercise if all they have is an 80-year-old vaulting horse?" "Don't call Helle that!" "But why do you ask?" "Oh, it's nothing." "Is it because of those cuts?" "How do you mean?" "Do you think she's cutting my field?" "No, I don't think so." "Are you gonna suggest slashing the athletics budget?" "I wouldn't dream of doing that." "I love sports." "I'm just worried that the cutbacks might ruin the work you've done." "But Helle's probably on your side, right?" "Are you worried?" "Yes." "Why don't you come to the meeting tomorrow?" "Helle and I are meeting to discuss all this." "Would that be alright?" "Sure." "She wanted to discuss it with the teaching staff." "You're part of the teaching staff, aren't you?" "See you." "Mm." "Hi, sugar pie, is that you?" "You're late, honey." "We have to leave in a second." "Go find your stuff." "Hi." "Hi." "What are you doing here?" "Hi, Rita." "Hi." "Hiya." "Um..." "I gathered that you're very busy, so I thought that I'd help out a bit." "I've combed the whole class." "Guess what I found in Karl's golden locks." "Your son's got lice." "Oh." "Oh, my..." "We take good care of his hair." "So we thought." "He's an actor and model." "It has to be in order." "I get that." "As you see, it's nice and clean here." "Why don't you come on in?" "No, it's cool." "I'm sure it's clean, but that doesn't change the fact that Karl's got lice." "So please wash and comb him." "Are you telling all the parents how they should look after their kids?" "Only if they're neglected." "She called our child neglected." "I think it was just a joke, honey." "But I did hear it, yes." "I'm very unhappy with the way you've handled this situation." "Likewise." "See you." "I hate cheese." "You wanted to talk to me?" "Yes." "I have a question." "Have you been harassing Karl's mother?" "No, I haven't." "Nevertheless, that's her impression." "Karl had lice." "I went there to make sure the message got through." "So did it?" "Not in a traditional sense, no." "Anna's been bullied because they think she's got lice, but it's Karl's." "Karl's mother's head's so far up her arse, she ain't doing shit." "You can't treat parents like pupils." "Bah!" "You have to leave Karl and his parents alone." "We've got plenty of pupils with serious problems." "It's a serious problem for Anna." "I'm not gonna discuss this!" "You want differential treatment." "No!" "I want you to pick your battles!" "Anything else?" "Rita!" "Are you hungry?" "A little." "Pizza or sushi?" "Just pizza." "Don't you care about homework and stuff?" "I only care about good grades." "Not all assignments are important." "I'm not able to maneuver that." "I have to do everything." "That poem doesn't matter." "Why did you bring me here again, then?" "I could have done it in school." "I just wanted to make sure that it turned out alright." "But you could've just checked it before I turned it in." "See you, Niklas." "See you." "Oh, goddamnit..." "Crap." "Bloody hell." "Ouch, goddamnit!" "Fuck." "Hi, honey, it's Mum." "Look, I kinda need your help." "I really can't find anything, Mum." "I'm still itching." "I've combed you four times." "No, but one of the kids must've infected me." "Are you alright?" "Besides having lice?" "Besides not having lice but thinking you have lice despite the fact that you definitely haven't got lice." "You can talk to me, you know." "I'm a grown up." "I've left home and everything." "Perhaps it's just been a while since I've lived alone." "But that's why it's so great that I'm a big girl." "I'm a big girl with some very big lice." "So comb me again, slave." "And I thought I was the neurotic one." "Hey, Bo." "Hi, Jonas." "Can you tell me a bit about your integration work at the school?" "Sure." "Has it worked?" "I think so." "I'm helping Helle with the cuts." "I wanted to make sure you're not affected." "She's slashing integration?" "No, but the district might if nobody's fighting for it." "Well, I am." "Can I come to your meeting?" "Sure." "We're meeting in Helle's office during lunch." "Cool." "Thanks, Jonas." "See you then." "Great." "See you there." "Bye." "Niels, can I have a word?" "Yes, sure." "You're the union rep, right?" "How do you know the cuts..." "Ida, Bo was speaking." "Actually, it was my turn." "They don't know why the integration work is important." "Children must be active." "All my work with alternative learning will be in vain if you slash it." "But I don't wanna slash anything." "But it's your goddamn responsibility!" "And I wanna spar with one of you!" "I don't think you need to have been approved to be able to participate." "Yes!" "How do we know you're looking after us?" "I only want what's best for the school." "Trust me." "But there's gonna be cuts, right?" "Yes." "When can we meet again?" "This could be a long process." "No, no, no!" "I can't discuss every tiny detail with each of you." "I haven't got time!" "You won't listen to us?" "That's really weak, Helle!" "Are we gonna stand here and be ignored?" "You're the union rep..." "No, stop that!" "I'll handle this myself." "Be mad if I'm doing something wrong, but I'm head of the school and I haven't got time for all your nonsense!" "That'll be all for today." "What just happened?" "They're fighting for their areas." "You can't please everybody, Helle." "Thanks, Jonas." "Why don't we postpone the meeting so you can catch your breath?" "That's probably a good idea." "Thanks." "Hi, Karl." "What's up?" "Oh, is this your apple?" "Come on in." "Are you mad at me?" "No." "Why would I be?" "Have you done something wrong?" "Because my parents can't be bothered to comb my hair." "Karl." "Listen, I am in no way whatsoever mad at you." "No matter what your parents do, or don't do, it can never be your fault." "OK?" "I know they bully Anna because they believe it's her fault." "Yeah." "But that's not on you." "I'm sure your parents are good people at the end of the day." "You're allowed to do modeling and to be an actor." "What is it?" "I don't want to." "My mum wants it." "She says it's important to be creative." "She wants me to be an actor, but I don't want to at all." "Mum talks more about my hair than about me." "Do you also hate football?" "No, I love football." "I have a poster of Cristiano Ronaldo in my locker." "You don't wanna be a model, but you love Ronaldo?" "Yes." "Does your mum know this?" "She's busy." "Karl..." "How about if we get her full attention?" "Are you ready, buddy?" "Then let's do it." "Well, this is how you look now." "It looks totally awesome." "Alright." "The lunch break is almost over." "Let's get back to the class." "This is what happens if you have lice and isn't combed." "Alright, let's begin." "Get your text books out, everybody." "Behind you, behind you!" "What's up, Niklas?" "Hi." "I was just thinking, we could go to my house and finish the assignment?" "I finished it at home." "I thought that was the deal." "Alright, great." "I thought you didn't care about it." "Yeah, I don't." "It's cool." "Alright, see you, Niklas." "Kareem, hold on a second." "I was thinking we could go anyway." "I just got a Playstation 4, so..." "Do you have Fifa?" "Um, yeah." "Are you buying pizza?" "Yes." "You don't have to." "And Fifa doesn't matter either." "See you after school." "Come on, boys!" "That was in!" "So everybody read chapter four and five for tomorrow." "And then I just wish you all a nice afternoon." "Bye, Rita." "Bye-bye, Anna." "What's up, Ronaldo?" "What if my mum gets angry about the hair?" "Are they coming to pick you up?" "They're taking me to a casting." "Look, tell your mum and dad that you'd rather play football." "And if there's any trouble, I'll be there." "Now go on." "Yes." "Come on now." "He's off in a second." "We're late, dear." "Hi." "What have you done to your hair?" "What have you done?" "What have you done!" "Who's cut your hair?" "Um, it was..." "Did you do this?" "Yes, it was part of today's lesson." "What the fuck are you on about?" "Are you familiar with the school's mission statements?" "Here, we find it very important to be creative." "We did a play about lice and Karl was at the hairdresser's." "And the hairdresser would be me." "People book him because of his hair." "That's also why he got this part." "But if it's to be authentic, you have to go all the way." "He's got talent, our Karl." "But he says he'd rather play football." "We think he should be creative." "Football's creative." "Don't interrupt." "But it is..." "Don't you even begin!" "Yes, I want to." "Karl is also entitled to an opinion." "Ronaldo's more creative than all your photo friends." "Why don't you talk that out at home." "See you, Karl." "See you, Rita." "Bye Rita." "Come on." "Søren..." "It's really not bad, is it?" "Of course he can play football..." "Yes, and now use the gun." "Hit him with the scissors." "The scissors?" "What scissors?" "The scissors right over there." "Right." "I'm gonna grab you." "Hi!" "Hi." "I think I've got you." "No, like this." "That's it." "Try and let me go, then..." "Okay." "That's it." "We're going this way." "Sure?" "Are we entertaining guests?" "Yes." "So... are you still doing that assignment?" "We finished it, so we thought we'd just hang out a bit." "Um." "How nice." " Grab the ladder." "The ladder?" "Why don't you grab it?" "Then I'll take the scissors." "It's like..." "Isn't it supposed to glow?" "Isn't that the problem?" "Niklas, come down for a second, will you?" "Right." "Just a second." "So... are you friends now, or what's going on?" "No, it's..." "It's just..." "Just what?" "Never mind." "How is Kareem doing in school?" "He's... struggling a bit, but he's improving." "It's nice of you to help him." "But don't mistake that for friendship." "Sure." "It's good to learn about other social classes but you're transferring, so you don't need new friends." "You need somebody that can stimulate you." "You know?" "Yes, Mum." "That's good." "Now go back and play." "I'm gonna go work for a while." "Are you OK?" "I'm fine." "Is it the evaluation?" "Yes." "Yes..." "I remember it from when I was head." "It's difficult to be weighed that way." "I must admit, it's harder than I thought." "Then why do you do it?" "It's what I wanna do." "If you're not made for it, you shouldn't force yourself." "Did you never have doubts?" "No." "Not really." "Stuff like that doesn't affect me." "It affects you." "That made you such a bloody good remedial teacher." "You're so sensitive." "Perhaps that's also your weak point as a boss." "You've thought a lot about that?" "What?" "What my weak point is?" "What do you mean?" "How it would affect me if, for instance, all the teachers became dissatisfied with me at the same time?" "How did the other teachers know that we were meeting during lunch?" "Do you really think you're behaving like a good head?" "You're weeping because somebody's ticked off a piece of paper." "That's bloody pathetic." "You can leave now." "You can leave now!" "I just believe this school deserves a competent head." "And the mayor agrees." "How do you do it?" "All the battles you fight." "How do you cope?" "Did something happen?" "Yes, but, um... nothing I shouldn't be able to handle." "But I don't know if I can." "Just tell me how you cope." "I like the fight." "It's the silence... afterwards..." "Simon Boertmann Brüel BTI Studios"