The NFB is committed to respecting your privacy

We use cookies to ensure that our site works efficiently, as well as for advertising purposes.

If you do not wish to have your information used in this way, you can modify your browser settings before continuing your visit.

Learn more
Skip to content Accessibility

Happiness Is Loving Your Teacher

This short dramatic film describes the harrowing first assignment of a physically disabled substitute teacher confronted with a classroom full of unruly pupils. Tony is particularly hostile, and is given a detention that increases her hostility. One day at home, the teacher receives a call of apology from Tony, asking him when he will be returning to the school.
Your rental expires on
None
You've already purchased this film.
Download it from My purchases.

Details

This short dramatic film describes the harrowing first assignment of a physically disabled substitute teacher confronted with a classroom full of unruly pupils. Tony is particularly hostile, and is given a detention that increases her hostility. One day at home, the teacher receives a call of apology from Tony, asking him when he will be returning to the school.

People with disabilities Education All subjects
  • director
    John N. Smith
  • editing
    John N. Smith
  • producer
    Vladimir Valenta
  • executive producer
    Roman Kroitor
  • screenplay
    Mariette Cook
    John N. Smith
  • photography
    David De Volpi
    Barry Perles
  • sound
    Jacques Drouin
  • sound editing
    Bill Graziadei
  • cast
    Marina Dimakopoulos
    Martin Kevan

Education

Ages 14 to 18
School subjects
Diversity - Diversity in Communities Diversity - Identity Family Studies/Home Economics - Adolescent Development Health/Personal Development - Problem Solving/Conflict Resolution

Critique the approach that the filmmaker has used in representing people with disabilities, teachers, and students. Assume that you are an advisor to the filmmaker; what feedback would you provide to him regarding the storyline in this film? Identify five key elements that are found in teen films. What are some of the archetypical characters that are in films about young adults? Address the distinction between stereotype and archetype.

More educational content

Happiness Is Loving Your Teacher
Purchase options
Licence information
Already paid to see this film?
Licensing information
Download-to-own (DTO) licence detail
Home licence (worldwide); Classroom licence (Canada only)

You may download this film for private, personal or classroom use only. Public screenings and institutional (non-educational institutions) uses are not permitted.

Download films in standard or high definition. (Please note that bonus materials are not available for DTO films.)

Institutional licence

To purchase an institutional licence or to buy a film that is not available for DTO or VOD on the platform, please contact us.

The institutional price includes the rights to screen the film in institutional settings and at free public screenings.

Additional instructions

DTO films cannot be hosted on a streaming server. To add DTO films to an institutional or educational streaming server, please contact a sales agent to discuss pricing.

You can copy each file up to 5 (five) times, onto various devices.

Explore