‘I’ve such a dread of ending my days alone…’
There are some names in the movie industry that just inspire confidence. Dench. Blanchett. Nighy. A cast of such pedigree ensures that any viewer is in safe hands. Notes on a Scandal, Richard Eyre’s masterful adaptation of Zoe Heller’s book, allows all three of those heavyweights a chance to do what they do best. Judi Dench and her stern veneer hiding a whirlwind of emotion just behind the surface. Cate Blanchett and her flighty, ethereal appeal. And finally, Bill Nighy and his ability to move between comedy and drama at the drop of a hat. All three are excellent here…
The world of an inner city school is rocked by the arrival of Sheba Hart (Blanchett), an attractive and enigmatic art teacher. When Sheba becomes involved in a relationship with one of her students (Andrew Simpson), she must rely on the sharp tongued history teacher Barbara (Dench) as her confidante. Her husband (Nighy) and daughter (Juno Temple) are completely oblivious to their ruse.
Notes on a Scandal is familiar subject matter. Just in the last year we have had A Teacher and Your Honour – both of which have leaned heavily into the teacher/student dynamic – but what sets Eyre’s film apart is the cast, particularly the two leading ladies. Dench and Blanchett are not just wonderful together, but even in the scenes they don’t share, the one that is left out lingers, as if by their very aura. The sheer range on offer almost feels like showing off as the two legendary actresses offer us a pair of multifaceted and nuanced characters each going through their own awakening. Eyre wisely dispenses with the bells and whistles and simply allows the cast to bounce off each other, with Dench’s narration (the eponymous notes) grounding the movie whilst still ensuring that nothing is ever quite as it seems.
Notes on a Scandal boasts the kind of premise and execution that would make it a massive hit if stretched over six episodes and distributed by Netflix, but doing so would rob this twisted tale of some of its power. No, it’s best to leave some things as they are. This film is one of them.