New, naive art teacher Sheba (Cate Blanchett, pictured) finds the grim reality of an inner-city comprehensive school a shock to her bohemian ideals, but staffroom veteran Barbara (Judi Dench) offers her friendship and a firm guiding hand. Insinuating herself into Sheba's comfortable, upper middle-class homelife, Barbara views her older husband and demanding children with disdain, but only feels her new "relationship" threatened when she discovers Sheba's affair with a pupil. Making ever more desperate demands for attention, Barbara resorts to blackmail and threats to keep the younger woman in her thrall.
The ever-excellent Blanchett imbues Sheba with an optimistic recklessness that makes her foolish philandering wholly believable. However, the film undoubtedly belongs to the Oscar-nominated Dench, whose embittered battleaxe of a character will sink to any depths in pursuit of her obsession, while still retaining some measure of sympathy.
Adapted by screenwriter Patrick Marber from Zoë Heller's bestselling novel, Notes On A Scandal is a stunningly performed, grown-up drama that stays with you long after the credits have rolled.
Notes on a Scandal is a Film programme that first aired in 2006 and has been classified a 15 certificate.
