The Lesson (Film Review)

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labour of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

They say that you should never meet your heroes because all they will do is disappoint you. However, that doesn't stop Liam (Daryl McCormack), a young aspiring writer from going to work for one of his literary gods. In The Lesson, the directional debut by Alice Troughton, we see that his work experience doesn't live up to Liam's standards. No, they exceed them but in a much darker way than he could have imagined.

Liam accepts a tutoring position at the family estate of the notorious author and Liam's idol, J.M. Sinclair (Richard E. Grant). He must ensure that Sinclair's son Bertie (Stephen McMillan) gets into Oxford. Soon, we will find out that Liam didn't take this job because he loves tutoring. No, it's just a means to an end. He's writing a thesis about Sinclair and an original novel he's been creating for many years. All he wants is more background information about Sinclair and, if possible, some mentorship. But Liam might get much more than he has bargained for. The closer Liam comes to Sinclair, Sinclair's detached wife Hélène (Julie Delpy), and Bertie, the more (dark) secrets he uncovers. The family had to deal with the death of their son Felix, who died two years ago and was also an aspiring author.

Despite Sinclair considering himself one of the greatest writers – he certainly has the ego that comes with it – he might not be as successful as he seems. That deception and intrigue come to life wonderfully by the beautiful cinematography by Anna Patarakina (Breaking Surface), which certainly adds a layer of secrets to this movie. Little by little, it becomes clear that Sinclair's success was built on pain, resentment and lies, and when he has to deliver his much-anticipated novel, his façade slowly crumbles.

We don't want to give too much away from what happens next, as The Lesson is one of those movies you must discover while watching it. The film gives you some clues here and there, and that's how it keeps you on your toes the entire time. You might think you know what will happen next, and while sometimes you might be right due to the glimmer of predictability, you're usually wrong. Throughout the film, you'll try to figure out how every character became who they are and what their angle is. Every revelation heightens the tension and suspense, even more so when you realize how many secrets the characters have.

The more you know their dark sides, the less you're sure who you should root for. The person you empathize with shifts many times. How did Sinclair become a successful writer who's so distant from his family? Is it his big ego, the death of Felix or the pressure he faces while writing his latest work? Will Liam only stay until he gets the information and mentorship he's after, or does he have an ulterior motive? And why doesn't Helene leave her husband when he terrorizes her so much? There are turns, twists, and dysfunctional moments in Alex MacKeith's screenplay, resulting in an intriguing movie.

Isobel Waller-Bridge's (The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse) work follows this trend. Her lyrical score, which suggests a steady family, becomes much more ominous representing the secrets. The Lesson is divided into different chapters, but the cue cards aren't as intruding or distracting as in other movies. A novel is written in chapters, after all, so it fits the theme.

The main focus of this movie is the interaction between the characters. To completely pull off a character-driven movie, you need stunning actors. Luckily, the cast is top-notch. Grant's (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) performance alone is worth the price of your cinema ticket. His acting is pivotal and multilayered. What starts as the perfect embodiment of a narcissistic writer develops into a more emotional and unhinged (in a good way) performance as the insecure and desperate writer who's not afraid anymore to show us his inner pain. Ultimately, Sinclair is only a mere shadow of what kind of man he was initially.

After giving us a emotional performance in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, McCormack follows it up with fine acting. He ensures that you know every emotion his character's going through, even when he doesn't say anything. Delpy (Before Midnight) might not have much to do at the beginning – as her character is quite submissive – but the longer the story continues, the more we see this French actress on screen and the better her performance becomes.

The Lesson is about how appearance can be deceiving, selfishness, the compartmentalization of feelings and the dark consequences of all of this. Each character does what they think is the best for them, even when their actions aren't necessarily right. This all comes together beautifully in a gripping, psychological movie that is sometimes a bit predictable. Luckily, Grant's fascinating performance, McCormack's impressive acting and the clever Delpy make you forget the predictable plot, which gets darker by the minute.

The Lesson is out in UK cinemas on the 22nd of September