One woman's mistake is another's opportunity.
A veteran high school teacher befriends a younger art teacher, who is having an affair with one of her 15-year-old students. However, her intentions with this new "friend" also go well beyond platonic friendship.
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Character
Contemporary, classical in form, grave and spare.
- contemporarynostalgic
- classical in formformally daring
- gravecomic
- sparerichly built
- intimateepic
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Answered from what people have written, never made up: a verdict, how much when it's a matter of degree, and the sentences that say so, quoted with their names. Reviews here first, then TMDB's reviews and the title's Wikipedia plot and reception. If nothing settles it, you can put it to the curators.
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Curator Co.'s numbers.
- badelfon TMDB · Aug 20126/10
This is one of those films like a great pasta dish where everything is just right but somehow you still don't feel the restaurant is justified charging $21.95 for a plate of noodles and tomato sauce. The direction is top notch, Cate Blanchett as Sheba Hart is great and Bill Nighy supporting just works. As much as I usually adore Judi Dench's acting, I thought she was a little too one-dimensional in this role. But given her choice, she executed the role with the usual Dench precision. This is a twisted love triangle story with very real characters. If you're the kind that picks up the dirt rags in the checkout line at the supermarket, you'll probably love the story. I gave it a 7 on my scale. It won't blow you away, but you won't feel like you've wasted your time either.
Read the whole review on TMDB - Filipe Manuel Netoon TMDB · Feb 20239/10
**Lust, loneliness and bitterness in an engaging film with two great actresses.** I was very impressed with this film, which combines two huge and very talented actresses and a script full of tension and very well developed. It's not something new or original, and there are a lot of relatively tense films that are set in a school environment. I can quote one that I saw recently, and that I remembered while watching this film: “The Children’s Hour”. Alright, the movie is about a hypothetical lesbian relationship between teachers, it's a different kind of scandal than what we have in this movie, but somehow it came to my mind. It is not an award-winning film, but it was nominated for two BAFTA, three Globes and four Oscars. Moreover, it was a competitive year, with several great films competing. The script is very loosely based on a real case in which a female teacher had a sexual affair with a minor student. The situation is scabrous and criminal, despite the fact that it is also a type of frequent sexual fantasy to be found. However, the film is not about that, but about the tortuous relationship between the young teacher and an older colleague, who discovers the secret. Lonely, bi
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Cast
- Judi DenchBarbara Covett
- Cate BlanchettSheba Hart
- Bill NighyRichard Hart
- Andrew SimpsonSteven Connolly
- Phil DavisBrian Bangs
- Michael MaloneySandy Pabblem
- Juno TemplePolly Hart
- Max LewisBen Hart
- Joanna ScanlanSue Hodge
- Julia McKenzieMarjorie
Crew
- Richard EyreDirector
- Patrick MarberScreenplay
- Zoë HellerNovel
- Chris MengesDirector of Photography
- Philip GlassOriginal Music Composer
- John BloomEditor
- Antonia Van DrimmelenEditor
- Robert FoxProducer
- Scott RudinProducer
Where to watch
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Curator Co. Other media included when they land close.
Match Point 200581% alikeBoth contemporary, classical in form, grave.
Roman J. Israel, Esq. 201780% alikeBoth contemporary, classical in form, earnest.
Cassandra's Dream 200778% alikeBoth contemporary, classical in form, spare.
Mean Creek 200478% alikeBoth contemporary, classical in form, earnest.
He Got Game 199877% alikeBoth contemporary, classical in form, grave.
Only You 201975% alikeBoth contemporary, earnest, classical in form.
A Simple Plan 199875% alikeBoth contemporary, classical in form, grave.
The Other Woman 201075% alikeBoth contemporary, classical in form, grave.
The Split 201876% alikeSeries · Both contemporary, classical in form, earnest.
Takopi's Original Sin 202575% alikeSeries · Both contemporary, earnest, classical in form.
Often watched with
Recommendations from TMDB. Opening one adds it to Curator Co.
