The Lesson
Who is teaching whom?
2023 | 103m | English
Popularity: 3 (history)
| Director: | Alice Troughton |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Alex MacKeith |
| Staring: |
| Liam, an aspiring and ambitious young writer, eagerly accepts a tutoring position at the family estate of his idol, renowned author J.M. Sinclair. But soon, Liam realizes that he is ensnared in a web of family secrets, resentment, and retribution. Sinclair, his wife Hélène, and their son Bertie all guard a dark past, one that threatens Liam’s future as well as their own. | |
| Release Date: | Jul 07, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Alice Troughton |
| Writer: | Alex MacKeith |
| Genres: | Drama, Thriller |
| Keywords | psychological thriller, writer, tutor, woman director, independent film |
| Production Companies | Jeva Films, Film Constellation, Poison Chef, Egoli Tossell Pictures |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $310,746
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Feb 03, 2025 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Richard E. Grant | J.M. Sinclair |
| Julie Delpy | Hélène Sinclair |
| Daryl McCormack | Liam Sommers |
| Stephen McMillan | Bertie Sinclair |
| Crispin Letts | Ellis |
| Tomas Spencer | Interviewer |
| Joseph Meurer | Felix Sinclair |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Alice Troughton | Director |
| Dixie Chassay | Casting |
| Jamey-Leigh Weber | Key Makeup Artist |
| Isobel Waller-Bridge | Original Music Composer |
| Anna Patarakina | Director of Photography |
| Alex MacKeith | Writer |
| Seth Turner | Production Design |
| Henning Jördens | Art Direction |
| Verena Schlünsen | Set Decoration |
| Paulo Pandolpho | Editor |
| Kate Benton | Makeup Designer |
| Micheal Manzke | Sound Mixer |
| Katharina Dietl | First Assistant Director |
| Andrea Kuehnel | Second Assistant Director |
| René Brodrecht | Set Dresser |
| Marco Böhm | Property Master |
| Carl Fischer | Assistant Set Decoration |
| Anja Pietruschka | Set Decoration Buyer |
| Rina Plüschau | Graphic Designer |
| Ben Cross | Foley Mixer |
| Julian Feijoo | Boom Operator |
| Ian Waggott | Foley Artist |
| Sibel Allen | Visual Effects Coordinator |
| Giuditta Natale | Script Supervisor |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Camille Gatin | Producer |
| Cassandra Sigsgaard | Producer |
| Judy Tossell | Producer |
| Fabien Westerhoff | Producer |
| Andrew Karpen | Executive Producer |
| Kent Sanderson | Executive Producer |
| Miranda King | Associate Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 15 | 26 | 7 |
| 2024 | 5 | 15 | 26 | 6 |
| 2024 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 6 |
| 2024 | 7 | 11 | 24 | 5 |
| 2024 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 3 |
| 2024 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 5 |
| 2024 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 6 |
| 2024 | 11 | 9 | 21 | 3 |
| 2024 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1 | 10 | 20 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 636 | 754 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 717 | 851 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 168 | 438 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 998 | 998 |
I was watching this for about ten minutes wracking my brain to remember where I'd seen Daryl McCormack before - then I recalled "Good Luck... Leo Grande" (2022). Well he's actually quite good in this too. It's quite a clever thriller about his aspiring young writer "Liam" who is offered the chance t ... o tutor "Bertie" (Stephen McMillan) at his home. His father is renowned author "JM Sinclair" (a characterful effort from Richard E. Grant) and mother "Hélène" (Julie Delpy) an accomplished pianist and artist. "Bertie" is a bit recalcitrant but gradually, as "Liam" finds his feet, the two start to bond a little and the older man begins to realise that this family dynamic, still reeling from a previous tragedy, is not quite as idyllic and synchronistic as it appears. Quickly, we discover that the confident and rather domineering paternal figure is actually quite an intellectual bully and he has his own secret which "Liam" is going to be a pawn in bringing to light. It's actually Delpy who steals the film for me. Her's is obviously the puppet master-character and she gels well with McCormack as the plot unfolds towards a denouement that is both fitting and just a little bit surprising. Crispin Letts also adds a little bit of menace as the butler "Ellis" and the tight cast and decent writing help keep this taut and attractive to watch. It's just a little slow at the start, but I still quite enjoyed this.