The Substitute (Denmark)

English Title: The Substitute (Denmark)

This hilariously scary science fiction thriller from Denmark will reinforce your conviction that your teachers were in fact aliens. Ulla Harms arrives on Earth from her planet charged with the task of finding out why Earthlings are the only creatures capable of feeling love. She assumes the perky blonde form of a Danish 6th grade substitute teacher, the better to suck the knowledge and energy out of her powereless pupils. Under the guise of training them for a compeition that will take them to Paris, Ulla subjects her feisty students to mind games and verbal abuse. Naturally, the kids' parents won't take their word for it that their teacher is an alien, so the kids are forced to take matters into their own hands. The leader of the rebellion is a sensitive boy named Carl, who suffers badly from his mother's recent death. To Carl's distress, his dad might be falling for the evil Ulla. When the kids' parents put them on the bus to Paris, it looks like this might just be their last day on earth. THE SUBSTITUTE features a priceless performance by actress Paprika Steen, whose Ulla is the next best villainess to Cruella DeVille. (In Danish with English subtitles) – BB