It is the start of the new school year, and there is a new art teacher at St. George’s- Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett), the daughter of a well-to-do politician. At first Bar doesn’t think too highly of Sheba- she feels the newcomer is a bit flighty, and lacks substance. It doesn’t help matters that Sheba instantly becomes the object of desire for the male population of the school. However Bar soon takes a liking to Sheba- she sees in her the potential for friendship, something distinctly lacking in her apartment and cat existence.
If friendship is all Bar wants, she will soon have it. Sheba is also in a lonely state- she feels isolated and helpless at her new job, and her home life is complicated at best. She is married to Richard (Bill Nighy), a man several years her senior, and her children are troubled- one is a detached teenager, the other learning disabled. She desperately needs someone to confide in, so she welcomes Bar’s overtures.
However, as the relationship progresses it becomes clear that Bar is not exactly what she seems to be. Her friendship with Sheba is not so much based on empathy, as a desire to control their relationship. When she feels she’s gained an advantage, gold stars adorn her journal as if it were a prized essay. On the other hand, when she feels Sheba has betrayed the friendship she reacts with threats and accusations. And unfortunately for Sheba, she is hiding a very big secret from Bar.
I will not go into the details of Sheba’s indiscretion, but it is a fairly serious one for a teacher. Once Bar discovers the offense she seizes upon it, and insinuates herself further into Sheba’s life. It is somewhat unclear what Bar expects to get out of this arrangement; there is certainly enough evidence to suggest that she may be a lesbian (other characters seem to imply this). I personally think that she is probably more gay than not, but that she would never act upon any romantic feelings for Sheba or any other woman.
Instead, I consider Bar’s needs to be more basic than a desire for sex. She seems to long for companionship and affection, and requires them on a constant basis. Moreover, she wants to make Sheba into her friend; part of the appeal for her seems to be in manipulating circumstances to create their relationship.
Overall, “Notes on a Scandal” is a fascinating film, showcasing the talents of Dench, Blanchett, and Nighy, as well as writer Patrick Marber and director Richard Eyre. There is a subtlety at work in the crafting of the film that is absolutely necessary when telling a story in this fashion. When it works, as it does here, the audience should realize that Bar is not all there about two beats after she begins her obsession. That’s enough time for us to still be surprised at the direction the film has taken, but still grasp where and when things have changed.
In this regard Dench is flawless. There really is no definite point where her character shifts from a sterner version of “Keeping Up Appearances” into something darker and more sinister- it just flows together seamlessly. And even though Bar is ostensibly the villain of the story, Dench also brings out her pitiable qualities, so that she is not completely some unhinged monster. Blanchett also earns her Oscar nod here, crafting a Sheba that is utterly credible- her commitment to the character’s actions is unwavering.
In short, performances of this quality aren’t merely noteworthy- they’re scandalously good.
Powered by AkoComment 2.0!
Entertainment
