The Teacher (2016 TV series)

The Teacher or The Teach (Polish: Belfer) is a Polish television crime drama series, which began screening from 2 October 2016. It stars Maciej Stuhr as Paweł, a high school teacher, who investigates criminal cases. Katarzyna Dąbrowska portrays Marta, another teacher and some-time love interest. Paulina Szostak appears as a student, Ewelina, in two seasons. The first season of ten episodes was a rating success for Canal + as it broke their all-time record and won two awards, including Best TV Series at the Polish Film Awards. A second season of eight episodes began in October 2017. After a gap of six years, a third season of eight episodes was broadcast from September 2023.

Plot
In late August 2016 Paweł, a high school Polish teacher, transfers from a Warsaw private school to Dobrowice. He investigates the recent murder of a school student, Asia who was his unacknowledged daughter. Marta becomes his lover and eventually pregnant. Paweł encounters local police corruption and criminal activity by both the social hierarchy and students. He meets aspiring journalist Ewelina. After that case is resolved in 2017, Paweł is coerced by inspector Radosław to go undercover at a Wrocław private school, where three students (Iwo, Magda, Tymek) disappeared before Paweł arrived. Polish intelligence officer, Karol, trained them as spies. Iwo kills and injures people at the school. Paweł uses Ewelina as his informant and helps find doomsday preppers, who are planning terrorist activities. Karol kills Ewelina to hide his connection with Iwo. Tymek hacks police files, kills Radosław. Magda kills Karol to prevent his escaping justice. Paweł refuses to work for Polish intelligence agents. Five years later, in August 2022, Paweł is released from jail without conviction. He returns to Małomorze as a teacher. Paweł reconnects with Bogdan, who runs cruises using local school students as crew members. Paweł finds out about Kacper's mid-voyage disappearance, which is investigated by local police officer Ewa. Her daughter Ada is Kacper's friend. Kacper's father Waldemar is corrupt. His confederates Olaf and Robert join his schemes. They are protected by Ewa's boss Zbyszek. Paweł and Ewa also separately investigates the death of Waldemar's warehouseman Iwan. Paweł's determination escalates when Bogdan dies, officially by drowning while drunk. Paweł meets Marta again and asks to see their daughter Milena.

Cast

 * Maciej Stuhr as Paweł Zawadzki: secondary school Polish teacher, former juvenile psychologist. Investigates criminal cases both assisting police and acting on his own. Returns to Dobrowice when Asia's murdered. Biological father of Asia and Milena, becomes Katarzyna's lover, then Marta's lover. Blackmailed by Radosław into becoming undercover teacher at a Wrocław private school. After being accused of espionage, he is released without conviction. Returns to port city of Małomorze and lives with Bogdan.
 * Katarzyna Dąbrowska: Marta Mirska: Dobrowice high school class teacher, Paweł's lover who becomes pregnant. Follows Paweł to Wrocław but their relationship ends. Milena's mother.
 * Paulina Szostak as Ewelina Rozłucka: Dobrowice student, Asia's friend, becomes Maciek's lover. Later poses as Weronika/"Wera" to assist Paweł in Wrocław
 * Szymon Piotr Warszawski as Radosław Kędzierski: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBŚ) inspector, coerces Paweł to work as informer
 * Piotr Głowacki as Rafał Papiński: Dobrowice police officer, Sławomir's second-in-charge. Later promoted to Commander
 * Helena Sujecka as Maria Zimmer: Dobrowice police officer. Later becomes Rafał's assistant

Season one only

 * Magdalena Cielecka as Katarzyna Molenda: head of Dobrowice foundation for youths, Julka and Jasiek's mother
 * Grzegorz Damięcki as Grzegorz Molenda: prominent Dobrowice businessman, Julka, Jasiek and Sebastian's father
 * Paweł Królikowski as Sławomir Słota: Dobrowice Police Commander
 * Sebastian Fabijański as Adrian Kuś: works for Grzegorz, Julka's lover, supplies drugs to dealers, supports his 6-year-old brother despite their inept mother
 * Józef Pawłowski as Maciej Dąbrowa: student, Asia's boyfriend, briefly becomes Ewelina's lover
 * Krzysztof Pieczyński: Lesław Dobrzański: Dobrowice Voice newspaper editor-reporter, Ewelina's uncle
 * Łukasz Simlat as Daniel Poręba: PE teacher, leers at female students
 * Mateusz Więcławek: Jasiek Molenda: student, Julka's twin brother, abrasive bully, becomes drug dealer
 * Joachim Lamża as Ryszard Kumiński: local meatworks and supermarket owner, disposes of wastes by dumping in forest, partner in Grzegorz' schemes
 * Aleksandra Popławska as Ewa Walewska: Asia's mother, Paweł's former lover
 * Cezary Łukaszewicz as Sebastian Molenda: Grzegorz' first son, works for Grzegorz
 * Aleksandra Grabowska as Julka Molenda: student, Jasiek's twin sister, Adrian's lover
 * Katarzyna Sawczuk as Asia/Joanna Walewska: student, Maciej's girlfriend, murder victim
 * Malwina Buss as Jowita Wójcik: student, composed threatening letters to Asia
 * Michalina Rodak as Daria Sadurska: student, coached by Daniel
 * Piotr Kruszewski as "Yogi": student, bully, Jasiek's stooge
 * Matt Malecki as Bujak: student, "Yogi"'s friend
 * Jakub Zając as Krystian Wróblewski: student, Maciej's friend
 * Robert Gonera as Bogdan Walewski: Ewa's husband, Asia's father (later learns of Ewa's affair with Paweł)
 * Patryk Pniewski as Łukasz Tarczyński: student, drug dealer working for Adrian
 * Sandra Drzymalska as Ola Kaczmarek: student, Ewelina's friend
 * Maciej Charyton as Jakub "Kuba" Wróblewski: autistic and epileptic student, Krystian's older brother
 * Przemyslaw Bluszcz as Jacek Dabrowa: Maciej's father, hunter
 * Beata Kawka as Grazyna Rozlucka: runs local bar, Ewelina's mother
 * Katarzyna Kwiatkowska as Olga Wróblewska: Krystian and Jakub's mother, Krysia's friend
 * Robert Czebotar as Mikolaj Wróblewski: Krystian and Jakub's father
 * Zbigniew Konopka as "Principal": high school principal, Paweł's boss
 * Tomasz Dedek as Zbigniew Tarczynski: Łukasz' father, local doctor
 * Andrzej Konopka (actor) as Przybylski: mayor, partner in Grzegorz' schemes
 * Wojciech Czerwinski as "Shrek"/Szrek: Adrian's henchman, Ryszard's meat worker
 * Kamil Mroz as Kijana: Adrian's henchman, Ryszard's meat worker
 * Robert Wabich as Baniocha: police desk constable
 * Magdalena Czerwińska as Anna Bednarz: Elbląg-based prosecutor, unimpressed with Dobrowice police's work on Asia and Maciek's cases, calls in Radosław
 * Ewa Kolasińska as Krysia/Krystyna: Paweł's aunt, retired dentist, Paweł boarded with her until fire, she stays with Walewski family
 * Dariusz Toczek as Cezary: history teacher
 * Jan Aleksandrowicz-Krasko as Jurij Kolonienko: Russian criminal, Adrian's contact in Kaliningrad
 * Andrzej Deskur (actor) as Kamil: Warsaw-based journalist, interviews Ewelina

Season two only

 * Michalina Łabacz as Magda Reiss: Wrocław private school student, one of three who went missing, slightly injured during shootings; actually an undercover intelligence agent trained by Karol, also poses as "Hallucination" Lucjan's prostitute/girlfriend
 * Eliza Rycembel as Luiza Dlugosz: student, Magda's friend, Patryk's girlfriend, vlogger
 * Dariusz Starczewski as Karol Ebig: biology teacher, also directs school production of Balladyna, injured during shootings. Actually an intelligence officer training students as spies.
 * Bartosz Sak as Slawek Godlewski: student, given Balladyna's lead male role after Iwo went missing
 * Stanisław Linowski as Tymon "Tymek" Karski: student, Magda's boyfriend, one of three who went missing; talented hacker, becomes Luiza's boyfriend, starts delving into Paweł's past, works as Karol's intelligence spy with Magda
 * Aleksandra Konieczna as Maria Zaborska: high school principal, aware of Paweł's undercover status
 * Mirosław Haniszewski as Ryszard Kowalczyk: CBŚ inspector, Radosław's superior
 * Damian Kret as Iwo Drawicz: student, one of three who went missing; trained by Karol to spy on Tati's doomsday preppers; goes rogue shoots and kills two people, injures others; killed by police
 * Jakub Gąsowski as Szymon Strzelecki: student, assists Karol with Balladyna
 * Adrian Zaremba as Patryk Dobosz: student, Luisa's boyfriend, poses as "Gudrun" to smear Karol
 * Joanna Niemirska as Agata Ebig: doctor, Karol's wife
 * Krystian Pesta as Borys: CBŚ officer, works for Radosław
 * Philippe Tłokiński as Orzechowski: CBŚ Commissioner, Radosław former rival, takes over Radosław's supervision
 * Milena Staszuk as Jaga Bienkowska: student, escapes from Iwo
 * Mariusz Słupiński as Marek Reiss: Magda's father, car repairer
 * Radosław Krzyżowski as Marcin Karski: Tymek's father
 * Aleksandra Domańska as Dorota: CBŚ officer, works for Radosław
 * Krzysztof Franieczek as Lucjan/Lucek: former mercenary, arms dealer, "Hallucination"'s boyfriend/pimp
 * Dariusz Biskupski as Tadeusz "Tati" Tkaczyk: furniture factory owner, former mercenary, doomsday prepper's leader, buys weaponry from Lucjan
 * Marcin Kobierski as Krzysztof: CBŚ officer, works for Radosław
 * Zofia Wichłacz as Karolina Gontarska: student, Iwo's ex-girlfriend, portrayed title role of Balladyna
 * Filip Warot as Tomasz "Pablo" Tkaczyk: doomsday prepper, Tati's son
 * Emilia Dankwa as Natalia Ebig: Karol's daughter
 * Mikolaj Zielinski as Tytus Ebig: Karol's son
 * Marek Kasprzyk as Rafal Gontarski: Karolina's father
 * Joanna Sydor as Aneta Gontarska: Karolina's mother
 * Pawel Aksamit as Draco: CBŚ officer, works for Radosław

Season three only

 * Roma Gąsiorowska as Ewa Krawiec: Małomorze Police Commissioner, Paweł's former lover, Zbyszek's sometime lover
 * Jacek Koman as Bogdan Zawadzki: Paweł's father, sailing ship captain, historically jailed for amber smuggling
 * Wiktoria Kruszczyńska as Ada Krawiec: Ewa's daughter, student, Kacper's friend, Bartek's girlfriend
 * Michał Zieliński as Kacper Krynicki: Waldemar's son, student, Ada's friend, missing presumed drowned
 * Mirosław Baka as Waldemar Krynicki: Basia's husband, Kacper's father: major businessman, organizes clandestine activities
 * Katarzyna Herman as Basia/Barbara Krynicka: Waldemar's wife, Kacper's mother, Bogdan's former lover
 * Marek Kalita as Zbigniew/Zbyszek Molak: Police Superintendent, Ewa's boss and sometime lover, corrupted by Waldemar
 * Hubert Miłkowski as Bartek: student, Ada's boyfriend
 * Kamil Pudlik as Igor Podolak: student, Kinga's boyfriend
 * Radoslaw Drozdz as Sebastian Druzbacki: police officer, Ewa's subordinate
 * Karolina Kowalska as Kinga Świtaj: student, Igor's girlfriend
 * Jan Jankowski (actor) as Robert Świtaj: Kinga's father, Waldemar's confederate
 * Mateusz Wardyński as Kuba: student, capable rapper-poet
 * Cezary Kolacz as Jaroslaw Nowak: uniform police officer
 * Roman Gancarczyk as Olaf Podolak: Igor's father, owns car and truck transport company (Podolex), Waldermar's confederate
 * Maciej Miszczak as Aleksander Butryś: Waldemar's henchman
 * Ireneusz Koziol as Leszek Maran: youth training center director, Bogdan's friend
 * Przemyslaw Kozlowski as Stefan Wyganski: geography teacher, part-time reporter
 * Radosław Drożdż as Sebastian Drużbacki: police officer
 * Agata Kulesza as Roztocka: pathologist
 * Mykola Panasiuk as Iwan/Ivan Mylko: Ukrainian former thief, Waldemar's warehouse worker, Kacper's love interest; murdered in warehouse
 * Matylda Paszczenko as Sliwinska: Małomorze Prosecutor
 * Oskar Stoczynski as Marcin Szczerba: Waldemar's warehouse worker
 * Rafal Kwietniewski as Tomek Zawislak: Bogdan's friend, fishing boat captain
 * Jan Jurewicz 	as Stopka: Bogdan's neighbor, retired vessel traffic controller

Production
Season one was directed by Łukasz Palkowski and based on a script by Jakub Żulczyk and Monika Powalisz. Filming began in July 2015 using sites in Chełmża, which doubles for Dobrowice; as well as Kwidzyn, Chełmno, Warsaw, Wilanów, Kampinos National Park and Lake Zegrzyńskie.

Season 2, consisting of eight episodes, premiered on 22 October 2017. Krzysztof Łukaszewicz and Maciej Bochniak directed the second series, with scripts written by Żulczyk, Powalisz and Bartłomiej Ignaciuk. It was filmed from April to July 2017 in Wrocław, Warsaw and Wałbrzych.

Director of the third season of eight episodes is Łukasz Grzegorzek while scripts were written by Żulczyk, Powalisz, Kacper Wysocki, Liliana Pomykalska and Przemysław Nowakowski. The scenes were recorded in 2022, in Łódź, Tuszyn, Pabianice, Zgierz, Ustka and on the STS Kapitan Borchardt sailing ship.

Reception
The first season was a rating success for Canal+ breaking its all-time best viewing figures, with an average audience rating of 345,000 and over 461,000 viewers watching the finale on 27 November 2016.

It was awarded the Special Prize at Telekamera 2017 and Best TV Series at the 2017 Polish Film Awards.

Releases
The first season was released on DVD on 17 March 2017.