Notes on a Scandal (2006)
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A lonely veteran teacher's obsession with a new colleague leads to a dangerous game of manipulation and secrets.
The story
Barbara Covett is an unpopular history teacher at a comprehensive school in London who finds solace in her diary. When Sheba Hart, a new art teacher, joins the staff, Barbara becomes obsessed with her. This infatuation turns into a dark secret when Barbara witnesses Sheba having an illicit affair with a 15-year-old student. Although Sheba asks for secrecy, Barbara decides to use the information to manipulate Sheba, leading to a tense psychological battle between the two women as the truth threatens to surface.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Barbara Covett, a lonely history teacher in London, becomes obsessed with the new art teacher, Sheba Hart. After witnessing Sheba's affair with a 15-year-old student, Steven Connolly, Barbara blackmails Sheba into submission. However, when Sheba resists Barbara's demands, Barbara leaks the secret to a male colleague who informs the school. The scandal breaks, leading to Sheba's firing and Barbara's forced retirement. Sheba moves into Barbara's home, only to discover Barbara's diary and realize she was the one who exposed the affair. After a violent confrontation, Sheba is rescued by Barbara from a crowd of reporters. Sheba eventually returns to her husband and is sentenced to 10 months in prison. The film ends with Barbara meeting another woman, maintaining her secret.
- First release year
- 2006
- Runtime (minutes)
- 91
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Richard Eyre
- Writers
- Patrick Marber · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Judi Dench · Barbara Covett; Cate Blanchett · Sheba Hart; Bill Nighy · Richard Hart; Andrew Simpson · Steven Connolly; Tom Georgeson · Ted Mawson; Michael Maloney · Sandy Pabblem; Joanna Scanlan · Sue Hodge; Shaun Parkes · Bill Rumer
- Genres
- psychological drama; thriller
- Themes
- obsession; manipulation; sexual repression; adultery
- Tone and mood
- sharp; vicious; dark; melodramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- psychological thriller; British independent film; teacher-student relationship; scandal
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2003 novel by Zoë Heller
- Content notes
- LGBTQ-related
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, with Dench and Blanchett's performances receiving widespread critical acclaim and Marber's screenplay being particularly lauded. It was also a major commercial success, grossing $50.6 million worldwide.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 73 · scale: 100 · review count: 35
- Awards and nominations
- Outstanding British Film · 60th BAFTA Awards · 60th · Nominated; Best Actress in a Leading Role · 60th BAFTA Awards · 60th · Nominated; Best Adapted Screenplay · 60th BAFTA Awards · 60th · Nominated; Best British Independent Film · 10th British Independent Film Awards · 10th · Nominated; Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film · 10th British Independent Film Awards · 10th · Won; Best Performance by a Supporting Actor or Actress in a British Independent Film · 10th British Independent Film Awards · 10th · Nominated; Best Screenplay · 10th British Independent Film Awards · 10th · Won; Best Actress · 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards · 19th · Nominated; Best Supporting Actress · 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards · 19th · Nominated; Best Adapted Screenplay · 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards · 19th · Nominated; Best Original Score · 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards · 19th · Nominated; Best Picture · 13th Critics' Choice Awards · 13th · Nominated; Best Actress · 13th Critics' Choice Awards · 13th · Nominated; Best Supporting Actress · 13th Critics' Choice Awards · 13th · Nominated; Best Supporting Actress · 12th Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards · 12th · Won; Best Actress · Evening Standard British Film Awards · Won
- Production trivia
- The film was shot mainly on location in the Parliament Hill, Gospel Oak and Camden Town areas of northwest London.; The Arts and Media School, Islington was used as a film location for many of the school scenes.; The film features the songs 'Funky Kingston' by Toots and the Maytals and 'Dizzy' by Siouxsie and the Banshees.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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