Notes on a Scandalous MovieNote One: “Notes on a Scandal” presents a unique and thrilling tale of how one woman’s lonely desperation leads her to sabotage another’s life. The plot and stunning performances soar above the modern-day thriller.
Near retirement, Barbara Covett (Dame Judi Dench) is a lonely and cynical veteran schoolteacher tolerated by her less bright and bitter co-workers who know nothing about her private life. That life consists mainly of taking care of Portia, Barbara’s aging cat, who happens to be her only friend. To prevent fatally succumbing to loneliness, she writes religiously in her journal.Then one day an opportunity presents itself that may change forever her hunger for companionship.
When Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett), a younger, attractive female art teacher joins the faculty, Barbara watches her from afar and indulges in writing only sarcastic things about the young woman in her diary regarding her clothing and her free-spirited nature.
Despite her apparent dislike of the younger woman, Barbara finds herself reaching out to her. Sheba responds by inviting her to have dinner with her family, where Barbara meets Sheba’s professor husband (Bill Nighy), who is 20 years her senior, and their two children: a flirtatious and rebellious 16-year-old daughter and a playful boy with Downs Syndrome. Yet, instead of opening herself to them when they welcome her in the household, Barbara instantly identifies them as competitors for Sheba’s attention and affection.
Soon after, when Barbara discovers her new friend in a classroom having sex with Steven (Andrew Simpson), an artistic 15-year-old student, she realizes that her knowledge of their secret empowers her to manipulate Sheba for her own purposes. Barbara swears to secrecy but insists that the affair must end immediately. Sheba agrees, but her insatiable appetite for her underage lover continuously seizes her. Sheba seems troubled with Barbara’s friendship and is dismayed when she discovers the older woman might have more than a platonic interest in her.
The feeble relationship between the two women reaches a critical point when Barbara, whose cat is dying, asks Sheba to go with her to the vet. Sheba chooses instead to go with her family to see their son in a play. In revenge, Barbara takes advantage of her manipulative leash on Sheba and sets in place the scandal that unimaginably shapes both their lives.
Note two: “Notes on a Scandal” is the epitome of explosive acting and growing suspense. Dench and Blanchett’s performances ignite the screen and invite the audience into the danger. “Notes on a Scandal” is one of the most electrifying films of the year. You’ll need a cup of ice to go with your popcorn to cool yourself while watching this movie.