New, naive art teacher Sheba (Cate Blanchett, pictured) finds the grim reality of an inner-city comprehensive school a shock to her bohemian ideals, but staffroom veteran Barbara (Judi Dench) offers her friendship and a firm guiding hand. Insinuating herself into Sheba's comfortable, upper middle-class homelife, Barbara views her older husband and demanding children with disdain, but only feels her new "relationship" threatened when she discovers Sheba's affair with a pupil. Making ever more desperate demands for attention, Barbara resorts to blackmail and threats to keep the younger woman in her thrall.
The ever-excellent Blanchett imbues Sheba with an optimistic recklessness that makes her foolish philandering wholly believable. However, the film undoubtedly belongs to the Oscar-nominated Dench, whose embittered battleaxe of a character will sink to any depths in pursuit of her obsession, while still retaining some measure of sympathy.
Adapted by screenwriter Patrick Marber from Zoë Heller's bestselling novel, Notes On A Scandal is a stunningly performed, grown-up drama that stays with you long after the credits have rolled.
Did you know? Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench have both played Queen Elizabeth I. Cate in Elizabeth (1998) and Judi in Shakespeare in Love (1998).
(4 Star)
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