Scent Of A Woman
released 1992
www.ink2quill.com

“Scent Of A Woman” is an American, drama, coming-of-age film produced by Martin Brest who also directed the film, G. Mac Brown and Ronald L. Schwary. It was written by Giovanni Arpino, Bo Glodman, Ruggero Maccari and Dino Risi. It stars a long cast of talent actors who include Al Pacino, Chris O’Donnell, James Rebhorn, Gabrielle Anwar, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Venture, Bradley Whitford, Rochelle Oliver, Margaret Eginton, Tom Riis Farrell, Nicholas Sandler, Todd Louiso, Matt Smith, Gene Canfield, Frances Conroy, June Squibb, Ron Eldard, Sally Murphy, Michael Santoro, Alyson Feldman, Julian Stein, Max Stein, Anh Duong, Leonard Gaines, David Lansbury, Joseph Palmas and many more.

Scent Of A Woman IMDb webpage

“Scent Of A Woman” is the story of Charlie Simms, played by Chris O’Donnell, who attends an expensive and elite prep school named Baird even though he does not have the money and is not part of that social circle. He is hired by a woman to watch over her blind man uncle, Lt. Colonel Frank Slade, played by Al Pacino. Now Frank has a somewhat grumpy personality and seems like that doesn’t respect authority very well. Oddly enough has once had a military career but does not seem to respect authority. As the story develops the young Charlie learns a lot from the old grump especially when he is confronted with a dire situation at his school. He is scarcely aware that the wheels of the school’s class system are about to grind him down. Frank understands what is happening and teaches the young Charlie what is going on and he eventually defends him when none of his school friends do. It’s a very interesting commentary on how people under class systems behave.

Let me first start by saying what a fine script this film is. It is a dated film but it captures so well a particular time in American culture when institutions like prep schools dominated American academia and access to the best jobs in the job market and positions of power in society. This film was released in the 1990s which is approaching the end of a time in America where prep schools where the shortcuts to power and wealth, if a person attending such prep school wanted it. This is snobbery, corruption at its worst. We still somewhat have this system but it no longer dominates culture the way it once did. Times have changed.

Another element I really liked about this film is the mentorship of Charlie by Frank. Frank is a grump who admittedly has paid a heavy price for his disregard of authority and caution but he is a good mentor nonetheless. He has the elements that go into a good mentor. Firstly, he is honest about himself, that is his failures and successes. He does not lie to himself or blame the world for his situation. So in that respect he is very sane. I’ve found that people who can look at themselves honestly are generally saner people. These people have healthier thoughts rattling around inside their heads and healthier relationships. Frank, although not a great guy, is such a man. Secondly, he has good intentions for the young Charlie. He means well even when he shocks the boy with his ideas on life and the world. Frank means well. Thirdly, he has life experience that Charlie lacks. He can teach him about life and explain events to Charlie that need explaining. Those three things are what make a good mentor. Not perfection or even achievements necessarily.

And of course another great element of the film is the realism of how the gears of corruption turn and grind good people down. People like Charlie who are the best behaved and those who are not wealthy or powerful bear the worst punishments and that is revolting. This is a very good look at corruption and how a corrupt system will protect some and harshly punish others in a situation where the authority doesn’t really care what happened or who’s guilty or innocent. Status and wealth are all that matters. Such systems should be completely torn down.

So, check out this dated gem of a film if you want a great story with a great script.

John Ink2Quill

I2Q Blogs / The Visual Medium drama / ink2quill / john / pacino / quill /