THE LESSON

UK, 2023, 104 minutes, Colour.

Richard E.Grant, Julie Delpy, Daryl McCormack, Stephen McMillan, Crispin Letts.

Directed by Alice Troughton.

There are certainly lessons in this drama but they are not the core. Rather, the characters involved are those who have to learn lessons – and do.

This is a British film, but set in the world of literature, creative writing, the screenplay divided into chapters. There is a prologue where a young man, Liam, Daryl McCormack (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande) is being interviewed about his writing – and, this will be reprised in the epilogue, the tentatively having become the self-confidently.

Liam is talented, gets the opportunity to go to a large country estate owned by the celebrated writer, Sinclair (Richard E.Grant), successful, seen being interviewed, ultrasensitive, walking out, certainly a man of moods. At home is his French wife, Helene (Julie Delpy). She is supportive of her husband, and businesslike. But they have hired Liam as a tutor for their teenage son, Bertie (Stephen McMillan), somewhat erratic in his studies but being pressurised by his father for forthcoming exams and qualifications.

For a while, the audience will be with Liam, intrigued by the family situation, memories of a talented dead son who committed suicide in the mansion pool, Sinclair writing into the early hours of the morning, the seeming detachment of Helene, and a butler who is the essence of formality.

But, we become more and more antagonistic towards Sinclair, his whims, self-importance, ambiguous relationship with his wife, as well as mixed responses to Bertie and his studies, his writing, the ups and downs of his interactions with Liam.

Then, there is a surprise when Sinclair seems to be very friendly with Liam, even inviting him to read his latest manuscript. Liam invited to show his own manuscript to Sinclair. The results are rather disastrous and lead to quite some dramatic complications, Liam expressing positive criticism of the final part of the novel, Sinclair, upset, denouncing Liam as having no talent.

What follows is quite intriguing, the revelation of some truths, a liaison between Liam and Helene, and the raising of the issues about the dead son.

Very British in tone, interesting plot developments, and a lot of ironies in the lessons that the characters have to learn.

1. The title? The tutor and his coaching? The novelist and his teaching everyone lessons? And the experience of the tutor and its being a lesson for him?
2. A British film, British atmosphere, affluent family, the country mansion, interiors, subsidiary buildings, the grounds, the pool? The world of literature, author interviews, television interviews? The literary atmosphere? The musical score, the classics?
3. The prologue and the division into chapters, epilogue? The cumulative effect?
4. The interview with Liam, his novel, the interviewer asking the origins, the cut and the flashbacks, the epilogue and the final question and Liam’s response?
5. Sinclair, his being interviewed, his manner, humorous, condescending, superior, the influence of events in his work, upset, walking out? Replay of some of the scenes? And the theme that authors steal from great works?
6. Liam, his background, accent, qualifications, studies, agency, the tutor? Going to the Sinclair family? The encounter with Helene, contracts, nondisclosure and the later use of the contracts? The encounter with Bertie, his age, studies, talent, parents expectations, preparation for interviews and exams? Liam arriving, Ellis, the reception, the perfect butler, Liam and his accommodation outside the main building? Ellis, no familiarity?
7. The sessions with Bertie, outside, initial hostilities, the discussions, literature, the to-ing and fro-ing, Bertie gradually mellowing, the influence of his father, Liam and daring him to go into the pool?
8. Sinclair, returning home, working throughout the night, the windows, Liam observing, observing Sinclair and Liam working through the night, asleep? Observing the sexual encounter between Sinclair and Helene? The meals, formalities, the playing of the classics? Liam being excluded from some meals? Ellis and his preparing the coffee?
9. Liam the quotations, his memory, word associations, remembering further texts? In this important for the drama with Sinclair’s novel?
10. Felix, the dead son, prior to the family, the story of his suicide, drowning? His literary abilities? Silence about him?
11. Sinclair, his computer, Liam and his fixing the computer, Sinclair’s reliance on him, the conversations, the new novel, Sinclair giving Liam the manuscript to read, Liam and his own writings, Bertie taking his text, Liam asking Sinclair to read it? Liam’s return, his comments about the novel, the two thirds excellent, the failings of the final third? Sinclair’s angry response? Ridiculing Liam as having no talent?
12. Sinclair’s absence, Liam talking with Helene, his approach, the sexual encounter, the consequences?
13. Liam, his anger with Sinclair, supporting Bertie, Bertie’s absence in London? His deleting the manuscript from the computer? Taking the text? The discovery that Felix had written the first two parts? His father appropriating them? His anger about his own manuscript, tearing it up, throwing it in the pool?
14. Sinclair’s return, the disappearance of the manuscript, Helene’s reaction, Liam and his searching the computer? Sinclair driving away, the search? Return, Liam and the truth, the confrontation between the men, Liam outspoken, the struggle, falling into the lake, Sinclair turning his head and drowning himself?
15. Helene and the consequences, protecting everyone, Ellis and his retrieving the body, subservient to Helene, the scenario, the deaths, the police, Liam to leave, his packing, at the gate, the police arriving?
16. The epilogue, his having written a novel, the interviewer, looking into the gallery and Bertie present and encouraging him?