Review of Scent of a Woman (1992) by Filipeneto — 24 Apr 2018

This film is very interesting and does not only have an analysis or a possible reading. It focuses on the experience of a young student (Chris O'Donnell) who accepts the job of taking care of a blind old man to earn some extra money. He reluctantly accepts the job after verifying that the old man is an army veteran, lieutenant colonel, and that his abrupt and rude manners would be difficult to bear. It gets worse when colonel decides to travel with his new "recruit" without care about his thoughts in these matter. However, they are not so different. Both show a tremendous sense of honor, duty, and dignity that permeates throughout the film at various times. This feeling, in a way, will allow both to understand each other better and establish a friendship. Another strong feature in the film is the enormous taste that the old colonel has for feminine companionship, and that is the origin of some of the most memorable phrases of the dialogues of the film.

Chris O'Donnell and Al Pacino worked very well together, but Al Pacino dominates the film completely, with a delivery, a professionalism, a talent difficult to match. It is not surprising because he is already an established actor and with evidence given in the artistic world. However, in this film, he certainly got one of the most significant works of his career, along with the films of "The Godfather" trilogy. On a technical level, the film is fairly regular, but I would highlight cinematography, with a discreet but competent use of light and color, giving the film an elegant look that values ​​without distracting the audience from the story itself. And here is the story, the script, what counts and what matters. An edifying story, where values ​​and honor are at the heart of the plot.