Brilliant! Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench are at their best. Notes on a Scandal is a glorious work of art, unravelling ambiguious feelings of lesbian love, lust and a devastating ‘friendship’. Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett), a newly appointed Arts teacher in suburban public school stuns the school crowd by her ecstatic beauty, her suave voice and her sensual ways. She quickly captures the glance of Barbara Covett (Judi Dench), an old accerbated colleague of hers. Barbara will gradually realise that Sheba is the one she has always been yearning for,.. the special ‘friend’, the muse.
Of a sweet frivolous nature, Sheba will engage into an impossible but yet tender love affair with one of her 15-year old students. Not once will pedophilia cross the mind of the viewer, for the act is made so pure, so innocent and one, subjugated by Sheba’s sensual character, will indulge just anything from her. Barbara, aware of this secret will exert a malignant influence on her ‘friend’, invading her life and making it bitter in every possible way. Yet, despite her machiavellian acts, Barbara proves not to be evil, but simply bitterly human.
Notes on a Scandal is a Class A movie, revolving around human emotions but can also be appreciated as a dark comedy. The impersonation of Barbara by and through her diary and her voice-overs add a tremendously powerful dimension to the movie, making it real and living. Once again, brilliant!
