Two women caught up in a drama of need and betrayal are at the heart of this psyhological thriller, Notes on a Scandal. The twists and turns of the noted in the acerbic diary of Barbara Covett (Dame Judi Dench), a dimineering and solitary teacher who rules with an iron fist over her classroom at a decaying state-run secondary school in London. Save for her cat, Portia, Barbara lives alone, without friends or condidantes - but her world changes when she meets the school's new art teacher, Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett). Sheba appears to be the kindred spirit and loyal friend Barbara has always been seeking. But when she discovers that Sheba is having an incendiary affair with one of her young students (Andrew Simpson), their budding relationship takes an ominous turn. Now, as Barbara own secrets and dark obsessions come tumbling to the fore, exposing the deceptions at the core of each of the women's lives.

Directed by
Richard Eyre

Cast
Judi Dench - Barbara Covett
Cate Blanchett - Sheba Hart
Tom Georgeson - Ted Mawson
Michael Maloney - Sandy Pabblem
Joanna Scanlan - Sue Hodge
Shaun Parkes - Bill Rumer
Emma Kennedy - Linda
Syreeta Kumar - Gita
Andrew Simpson - Steven Connolly
Philip Davis - Brian Bangs
Wendy Nottingham - Elaine Clifford
Tameka Empson - Antonia Robinson
Leon Skinner - Davis
Bill Nighy - Richard Hart

Production Co.
DNA Films
Scott Rudin Productions

Produced by
Redmond Morris
Scott Rudin
Robert Fox

Studios
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Writer
Patrick Marber
Zoe Heller

Music
Michael Riesman