Notes on a Scandal

One Woman's Mistake Is Another's Opportunity...

Loneliness can turn one into a monster.

One woman's secret is another woman's power. One woman's fear is another woman's weapon. One woman's life is in another woman's hands....


Now that I think about it, this actually relates to my project. I'm basing my project on alone-ness and lonelyness in public space. but I am really interested in the psychological effects that lonelyness can play on our minds, our mental states. So this is a great example of lonelyness which has gotten to the stage of complete emotional and psychotic breakdown.



Notes on a Scandal is a 2006 British film adapted from the 2003 novel of the same name by Zoe Heller. The screenplay was written by Patrick Marber and the film was directed by Richard Eyre.
Barbara Covett (Judi Dench) teaches history at a comprehensive school in London. A lonely old spinster, Barbara's only "intimate relationship" is with herself by means of a diary. When a new, younger teacher Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett) starts at the school she feels drawn to her and believes that she "may be the one". Barbara discovers that Sheba is having an affair with a student, Steven Connolly (Andrew Simpson), and confronts her. When Sheba asks her to not tell the school administration until Christmas so she can be with her family, Barbara explains she has no intention of telling, as long as she ends the relationship. However, she doesn't and Barbara warns her once more. But when Barbara's cat dies and Sheba can not be there to comfort her, Barbara seeks revenge by telling a fellow teacher who comes to her asking her if Sheba is interested in him. The fellow teacher spreads the "playground rumour" to Steven's mother. Ms. Connolly then comes to Sheba's home and hits Sheba. The next day the media, as well as the school administration, are alarmed and Sheba's life is turned upside down. She ends up moving into Barbara's house, with the idea that Steven broke down to his mother, but soon finds Barbara's diary and learns of the rather sexual attraction Barbara may have with her. (Earlier, when the school's headmaster asks Barbara if she knew of the relationship, he confronts her on receiving a restraining order with another fellow teacher whom she previously befriended).

Sheba is sentenced to 10 months, and the last scene is Barbara meeting another younger woman whom she seems to befriend.

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