Notes On A Scandal (2006)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465551/
Director: Richard Eyre / Script: Patrick Marber, Zoe Heller
Runtime: 92min
Cast: Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Bill Nighy, Andrew Simpson
Genre: Drama
Tagline: One woman's mistake is another's opportunity.

A complex, versatile drama presenting events leading up to a scandal. Barbara Covett is a bitter, old and lonely spinster, a strict teacher, who befriends with Sheba, the new and young art teacher. When Sheba’s affair with one of her teenage students becomes known to Barbara, she uses the information to manipulate Sheba, who becomes indebted to her and Barbara can at any time divulge the life shattering secret.

Barbara’s character makes an impression from the beginning; with the help of her diary she analyzes every aspect of Sheba’s life and her cynical comments are sometimes pretty sharp. Even if Barbara is nothing like Sheba - young, fragile, naïve and lovable – they become friends. Sheba comes to confide in Barbara, who is hungry for her friendship. Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett’s performances are admirable and passionate; though we tend to not like Barbara’s character, we have to admit that her acting is great. Sheba has an affair with an attractive teenage boy, who she’s pursued by; even though she knows it is immoral she eventually gives in to temptation. It is pretty exciting; I liked the idea of the adultery with a teenage boy; the potential lust between a student and his teacher. Too bad the affair is threatened by Barbara who after witnessing their compromising relationship insists that Sheba should end the affair. At first we think she wants that only because of moral principles, but later on we find out of her other reasons too. Barbara’s attitude towards Sheba is ambiguous throughout the movie, though we are given several subtle hints, the movie still manages to surprise us with Barbara’s emerging secret. Loneliness, obsession and sexuality are key themes illustrated by this movie.

The twists, the natural sounding dialogues and the movie’s intense, provocative script presenting moral and sexual dilemmas make this movie a real treat. The psychological struggle is intense, which comes along with deviant sexual desires. It is a complex movie with a fluid storyline, recommendable for anyone who would like an original representation of a controversial subject.