Some people learn the hard way|Sep. 08, 2019|United States|108 Min.|TV-MA
Genre: Crime;Drama;History;TV;Movie
Description: “Bad Education,” released in 2019, follows the story of Dr. Frank Tassone, the superintendent of the Roslyn Union Free School District on Long Island in 2002. Alongside assistant superintendent Pam Gluckin, Frank has significantly improved the district, with Roslyn High School now ranked as the fourth-best public school in the country. This success boosts the local economy, benefiting school board president and real estate broker Bob Spicer. Frank, admired by students and parents, claims to have lost his wife years ago and avoids romantic advances from local mothers. During a conference in Las Vegas, he begins an affair with former student Kyle Contreras.
A student reporter, Rachel Bhargava, investigates the school’s finances after noticing irregularities while researching the planned skywalk construction project. Frank encourages her journalistic efforts, but Pam grows uneasy. It’s later revealed that Pam has been using a fraudulent district expense card, which she also allows her niece, Jenny, a district clerk, to misuse. Pam’s son uses the card for personal construction expenses, alerting Bob through a relative working at the store.
Bob and the school board confront Pam, discovering she has embezzled at least $250,000 in taxpayer funds. Frank convinces them to handle the matter discreetly to avoid a public scandal. Pam is forced to repay the money and resign, with the board announcing her “retirement.” Frank manipulates the district auditor, Phil Metzger, to cover up the financial discrepancies and appoints him as Pam’s temporary replacement. When Jenny tries to expose Frank, he threatens her with evidence of her own misuse of funds.
Rachel persists in her investigation, uncovering further evidence of embezzlement, including unpaid supply orders and exorbitant consulting fees paid to suspicious companies, such as Pam’s husband’s car dealership. The film delves into themes of corruption, deception, and the consequences of greed within the education system.
Cast director: Peter Thorell
Cast actor: Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Geraldine Viswanathan, Alex Wolff, Rafael Casal, Stephen Spinella, Annaleigh Ashford, Ray Romano, Hari Dhillon, Jeremy Shamos
Original name: Bad Education