In this amazing and creepy tale of how a supposed friendship takes advantage of vulnerability to turn friend into prey, Judy Dench “rises ferociously to the occasion with her juiciest, most substantial performance since ‘Iris’…..Using her frumpy, diminutive stature as a weapon, Dench’s Barbara invites the viewer to pity her loneliness, so it registers as a genuine shock when she exposes the borderline-psychotic levels of neediness underneath.” – Justin Chang, Variety.  Starring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett.  Directed by Richard Eyre.
 
Issues to ponder: What is the motivation and psychology of a female emotional and sexual predator, both of other vulnerable females and of younger male students?  What mixture of sexuality, need, control, sadism and other motives is involved in the relationship between Dench’s and Blanchett’s characters?

Panelists:
Academic: Alexandra Vogelbaum, Ph.D.
Film Theorist:  Brian Murphy, Ph.D.
Psychotherapist:  Jim Hansell, Ph.D.

University of Michigan,
4448 East Hall, Ann Arbor (NW corner of Church and S. University)

Film at 1 p.m.
Discussion at 2:30 p.m.