Watch Notes on a Scandal

Notes on a Scandal is a 2006 drama film that explores the complex and manipulative relationship between two female characters, played by Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench. Based on the novel of the same name by Zoe Heller, the movie delves into themes of loneliness, jealousy, and obsession. The story revolves around Sheba Hart (Blanchett), a kind-hearted and empathetic art teacher at a London high school who begins an affair with one of her underage students, Steven Connolly (Andrew Simpson). When Sheba's colleague and fellow teacher, Barbara Covett (Dench), discovers the affair, she sees an opportunity to manipulate Sheba and use the secret to exert control over her.

Barbara, a lonely and bitter woman who has never had a close relationship with anyone, becomes obsessed with Sheba and her scandalous secret. Despite her initial disgust at the affair, Barbara soon finds herself drawn to Sheba and begins to see her as a victim of her own weak-willed nature. As Sheba's affair becomes public knowledge and her marriage falls apart, Barbara becomes increasingly possessive of her, manipulating her into a strange and unsettling friendship.

Throughout the movie, we see Barbara's true nature gradually revealed, as her obsessive and controlling personality becomes more and more dangerous. Blanchett's portrayal of Sheba is poignant and nuanced, capturing the character's desperate search for connection and meaning in her life. Dench's performance as Barbara is both chilling and deeply sympathetic, as we begin to understand the character's own pain and loneliness, which have driven her to such extreme behavior.

The movie is a masterclass in tension and suspense, as we watch Barbara's obsession with Sheba escalate to terrifying levels. The score, by Philip Glass, is haunting and suspenseful, adding to the sense of unease that permeates the film. The direction, by Richard Eyre, is taut and assured, creating a claustrophobic and intense atmosphere that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat.

Ultimately, Notes on a Scandal is a powerful meditation on the nature of obsession and the lengths to which people will go in order to feel a sense of connection and control. It is a challenging and unsettling film, but one that is well worth watching for its superb performances and its unflinching exploration of some of the darker aspects of human nature.

Notes on a Scandal is a 2006 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 73.