Melanie leaves home to start her teaching career, armed with alternative methods and bright-eyed optimism. But after her first day of classes, during which she gives an ambitious speech, Melanie finds rejection from her colleagues, torture from her students, and loneliness in her personal life.

Molto prima della candidatura all’Oscar® per Toni Erdmann, Maren Ade esordì al cinema con questo ritratto affilato della nevrosi di un’insegnante idealista. Freddo e crudele, The Forest for the Trees analizza con occhio clinico la solitudine e il disagio sociale.