Watch The Browning Version

The Browning Version is a 1994 drama film directed by Mike Figgis and starring Albert Finney, Greta Scacchi, and Matthew Modine. The movie is based on the 1948 play of the same name by Terence Rattigan. The plot follows Andrew Crocker-Harris (Albert Finney), an aging classics teacher at an English boarding school who has become disillusioned with his career and unhappy in his marriage to his unfaithful wife (Greta Scacchi). With retirement looming, Crocker-Harris is forced to confront his own failures and regrets as he reflects on his life and his impact on his students.

As the end of the school term approaches, Crocker-Harris is tasked with supervising the final exams and marking the papers. However, he is also dealing with health issues and the emotional fallout from his wife's infidelity. He becomes fixated on a gifted student named Taplow (Ben Silverstone) and sees in him a chance to redeem himself as a teacher.

Meanwhile, Crocker-Harris's colleagues and students are preparing to say goodbye to him, but few seem to have much enthusiasm for the occasion. One exception is Frank Hunter (Matthew Modine), a young science teacher who befriends Crocker-Harris and urges him to seize the opportunity presented by his retirement to start anew and forget past mistakes.

Throughout the movie, we see flashbacks to Crocker-Harris's past, including his early years at the school and his failed attempts to connect with his students. We also witness his interactions with his wife, who is more interested in extramarital affairs than in supporting her husband.

The Browning Version is a poignant examination of aging, regret, and the search for meaning in life. Albert Finney gives a restrained but powerful performance as the embittered Crocker-Harris, capturing both his prickly exterior and his inner turmoil. Greta Scacchi is equally effective as his duplicitous wife, while Matthew Modine provides a welcome buoyancy as the optimistic Frank Hunter.

The movie is visually impressive, with director Mike Figgis making use of shadow and light to reflect Crocker-Harris's emotional state. The school itself is portrayed as a claustrophobic and oppressive environment, with the students and teachers going through the motions without any real passion or enthusiasm.

Overall, The Browning Version is a moving and thought-provoking movie, one that lingers in the mind long after the credits have rolled. It explores universal themes of love, loss, and the passage of time with subtlety and grace, anchored by a superb performance from Albert Finney.

The Browning Version is a 1994 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.