Notes on a Scandal

Stories that mix education and scandal always make for a wild ride -- in real life and in art. I'm happy to report the imminent arrival of Notes on a Scandal (2006), based on the superbly rendered 2003 Zoë Heller novel (in the USA, also called What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal). Starring Cate Blanchett as Sheba Hart and Judi Dench as Barbara Covett, its limited American release date is set for December 25, 2006. Richard Eyre directed, screenplay by Patrick Marber, and soundtrack by Philip Glass. The book skewers the elite school system in England; Heller's wickedly sardonic take could easily be made on a very similar private school culture in the USA.


Another withering look at social interaction in a secondary school setting is Tom Perrota's 1998 novel, Election, and the 1999 movie version that came hard on its heels -- both excellent, if cringe-worthy for educators.

School for scandal, college level, can be found in J. M. Coetzee's Disgrace (1999). The movie version is slated for a 2007 release.

For truly old school style, there's Der Blaue Engel / The Blue Angel (1930), with none other than Marlene Dietrich in the title role as Lola Lola; it's based on a novel by Heinrich Mann. A remake was made in 1958. A fantastic variation of the original story, which it incorporates, is Blue Angel, the 2000 novel by Francine Prose. I read somewhere that Randy and Evi Quaid had optioned the movie rights. Evi directed The Debtors (1999), which has been blocked from release for legal and financial reasons but was well-received in Toronto. Hopefully they'll have better luck with Blue Angel, if the option stories are true.

One more film mixing students and scandal: To Die For (1995), directed by Gus Van Sant with excellent performances by Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, and Joaquin Phoenix.




Today's Rune: Partnership.

Cheers, then!