“Notes on a Scandal”
"Notes on a Scandal" Directed by: Richard Eyre. Starring: Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench, Bill Nighy.
"Notes on a Scandal" details the friendship between two deeply troubled people. Judi Dench's character, Barbara Covett, is a super strict, unfriendly, no-nonsense teacher. The unfortunate and flawed soul that befriends her is Sheba Hart, portrayed by Cate Blanchett.
Outwardly, Sheba and Barbara are complete opposites. Where Barbara is old fashioned and uptight, Sheba is modern and free-spirited. Barbara is a strict, unpleasant teacher nearing retirement, and Sheba is the cool, new teacher at school.
Sheba's classrooms are much more disorderly- which ends up getting her in trouble. Barbara has to come in and help her when she loses control of a class and has difficulty breaking up a fight between her students. Barbara saves the day and this is the beginning of their friendship.
At first, they're an okay fit. Barbara tries to help Sheba handle her classrooms and she loosens up a bit after visiting with Sheba's family. Basically they were both in need of a friend and they fill that void within each other.
Then Barbara learns Sheba's secret- she's been sleeping with a student. Barbara agrees to keep quiet, but the relationship changes from mutual friendship to a situation where one person has something very big over the others head. Barbara gets more and more demanding and Sheba has to figure out how to deal with her.
Surely there's no excuse for Sheba's behavior, and of course Barbara should report it. But that she doesn't, and instead uses it against her, is what makes finding a character to side with so difficult. In addition to that, Sheba is continuously painted as the sympathetic character while Barbara is once again, the opposite. Despite her horrible crime, Sheba still comes across as vulnerable. Her punishment, public ridicule and condemnation, and her husband’s rejection almost make you feel sorry for her.
There’s also definitely a parallel that can be drawn between the relationships within the film. Sheba takes advantage of her student, just as Barbara takes advantage of Sheba. There are differences for sure, but in both relationships one character wields power over the other and uses it for their own benefit.
What's most impressive about this film is the slickness with which Barbara evolves from unhappy woman to backstabbing, scheming, manipulator. It's difficult to tell how delusional Barbara is at first. Through the “notes” in her journal, which she narrates throughout, we see the truth versus what’s in her mind, and slowly, we get to know the real Barbara.
Story: B
Acting: A
Visuals: B
Originality: B
Enjoyability: B
Overall: B
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