notes on a film

I had a chickfest last weekend wherein only one chick attended aka MOI. So what did I do? I borrowed  the dvd of Notes on a Scandal. Have you seen it, dear reader? I recall the evening several years ago when Himself and I saw it at our lovely local Westgarth Cinema. I can honestly say that our eyeballs did not once deviate from that screen. So enthralled were we that we had to eat our popcorn entirely dependent on muscle memory.

On revisiting said film it is just as powerful. And can I add that I loved the time alone in which to ponder the costumes and styling. Cate and Judy were dressed by Tim Hatley and he did a brilliant job. He insisted that the women repeat their outfits just like in real life and stick to their old favourites just like us everyday gals. Cate is dressed entirely from vintage outlets and  'the High street'  (don't you just love that English saying?) and while she looks STUNNING she also looks real. Dame Judy was stuck with sour-faced school mam 'uniforms' I'm afraid, but the attention to detail wasn't lacking there  either (I was particularly impressed by her ill-fitting bra in one scene. It kind of said it all about poor, sad, more than a tad evil Barbara).  I have just this week popped down to see the lovely Heather at Fairfield Books and ordered a copy of the novel by Zoe Heller. I do hope it's even more powerful than the film; the issues it explores are so contentious, so explosive. If Judy Dench's narration is anything to go by the book will be a fabulously bitchy, twisted, poignant read. I shall let you know. xx