Scent Of A Woman | The Classic Reviews

When Charlie visits the visually impaired Colonel Slade for the first time, you are made aware of two things: the Colonel is not exactly a friendly person, and he seems to be in a permanent bad mood. You begin to wonder what might have happened to the man to send him into such a downward spiral. After all, it is unusual for someone who is blind not to find any warmth, even when interacting with younger people.

It does not take long to understand the reason, however, as the Colonel takes us through the rollercoaster of emotions he is experiencing himself. We realise he is not entirely mean; his tough armour eventually reveals chinks—a deep-seated desire to hold a woman and find someone he could call his own. Yet, before that vulnerability shows, he almost makes you wonder (as Charlie remarks in one scene) if he has a “one-track mind,” as he relentlessly speaks about women—their scent, their anatomy, and his past escapades.

The Story

Scent of a Woman is set around a Thanksgiving weekend, when a prep school student, Charlie Simms, takes up a job as a companion to a blind, retired Lieutenant Colonel who is often more drunk than he should be. Following some initial friction, the two head to New York, where the Colonel intends to live his final few days in style before taking his own life. Along the way, we see the two develop a deep bond while finding their own sense of self. The movie is adapted from the Italian novel Il buio e il miele (Darkness and Honey). Interestingly, the book was also adapted into a 1974 Italian film, Profumo di donna, which was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 1976 Academy Awards.

The Good and The Bad

Bo Goldman’s screenplay brings together two polar opposite characters: a young boy with solid ideals, though a bit lost, and an older man used to doing the “right” things—not out of moral necessity, but because it boosted his image. The film offers a powerful combination of hope, compassion, despair, and cynicism. Its ambition is to explore and unravel these two characters rather than just tell a definitive, classical story. While the Colonel has his own misery to deal with, Charlie is at a crossroads in his life—one that could lead him either to glory or to the pits.

Al Pacino, as Slade, delivers one of his most memorable performances. Interestingly, Slade is a former serviceman who lost his eyesight due to his own recklessness (a grenade accident), which adds a layer of guilt to his character. Pacino’s performance is so convincing that you truly believe he can smell the specific scent of every woman he meets. His ability to command a scene, regardless of its depth, makes this movie a true classic.

This performance does not take away from the solid work of a very young Chris O’Donnell, who was only 22 when he shot this film. Despite the towering presence of Pacino—who went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor—O’Donnell leaves an equally strong mark. The scene where Charlie tries to talk back a suicidal Slade leaves one wondering why O’Donnell did not achieve the same level of lasting superstardom as some of his contemporaries.

Verdict

Martin Brest’s Scent of a Woman is one of the most remarkable movies dealing with depression, loneliness, and the basic human need for companionship. It is heartwarming and leaves the viewer with much to ponder.

Scent of a Woman is currently available on Netflix for Indian audiences.

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