Notes on a Scandal

Hot book cover. Great film. Scandalous topic that makes good drama and conversation.

Notes on a Scandal is one of the lesser talked about films of the 2007 awards season, but nonetheless, the performances, conflicts, and dialogue in this film are definitely noteworthy and quite exciting.

The film stars Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett as teaching colleagues -- Judi Dench's character is the seasoned teacher who discovers that Cate Blanchett's character has started an affair with a fifteen-year-old student at their school. It's not just the affair that the scandal. It's Judi Dench's character's loneliness, idiosyncracies, and staying in the closet FOREVER that drives her responses throughout the film.

We all know those "interesting" types who never come out, but we know they ARE, but they cling on to any hint of friendship from someone they admire... possibly even "creating" a relationship in their mind. I'm sure we also know types who are lonely in their romantic relationships, and just want an escape... even if it's a scandalous, temporary escape.

Anyway, the film is based on the critically-acclaimed novel, What Was She Thinking? Notes On A Scandal, by Zoe Heller. The novel came out a few years back and was lucky enough to be optioned for film -- any novelist's dream.

If you get a chance, go see the film... but even better, go pick up the novel. It's full of juicy and bitter one-liners that you can add to your own dishy conversations with friends.
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