When Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett) joins St. George's as the new art teacher, Barbara Covett (Judi Dench) senses a kindred spirit. But Barbara is not the only one drawn to her. Sheba begins an illicit affair and Barbara becomes the keeper of her secret in the most obsessive of ways.
This movie featured one hell of an amazing performance by Judi Dench. She played a lonely, obsessive, bitter old lady looking for female companionship. She befriends Cate Blanchett's character and then stumbles on to the fact that she is having an affair with one of her fifteen year old students. Judi Dench's character then masterfully manipulates the power of having that secret in to having total control over Cate Blanchett. I haven't seen Helen Mirren in The Queen but putting that aside, Judi Dench should definitely receive an Oscar for Best Actress. You find yourself totally entranced in her creepy obsessiveness and manipluation.
This movie is definitely worth the rental fee on Judi Dench's performance alone and should be checked out.
