The arrival of Maria Drazdechova, associated with the Communist party, to a school in Bratislava in 1983 worries parents, students, and colleagues.

Since the arrival of new teacher Maria Drazdechova to a Bratislava suburban school in 1983, life has turned upside down for students and parents. The teacher's corrupt behavior, and a student's suicide attempt that could be related to it, makes the Principal call the students' parents for an urgent meeting that will suddenly put all the families' futures at stake. They are asked to sign a petition to eject Miss Drazdechova from the school. The teacher's high connections within the Communist Party make everyone feel threatened, but they have no choice but to decide whether to dare to oppose Miss Drazdechova and stand up for what they believe in at any risk, or to remain silent--and possibly let things get even worse?—LevelK.dk

On the outskirts of 1983 Bratislava, in the waning years of Communist rule, soft-spoken widow and well-connected schoolteacher Comrade Mária Drazdechová arrives at her new class of unsuspecting students. With her little black leather notebook crammed with useful information about her pupils' parents' employment status, Mária, the unscrupulous instructor with the permanent smile, weaves an intricate network of corruption and uncommon personal favors--for her benefit, of course. Then an affronted father who can't afford to lose his job refuses to go along--and faces the consequences. But who would dare to denounce Mária, a woman with close ties to the ruling Communist Party?—Nick Riganas