This film based on Francine Prose’s novel “Blue Angel” couldn’t be timelier. “Submission,” written and directed by Richard Levine, zeroes in on what turns out to be an accusation of sexual harassment at a New England college and emerges as a cautionary tale. The film hits its mark with an excellent cast playing characters caught up in the situation.
Stanley Tucci is superb as Ted Swenson, a novelist and professor at the college. He is happily married but frustrated in trying to write another book. Dispensing toughness and high standards, he tries to be an inspiration to the group of students in his writing class. One student, Angela Argo, played by Addison Timlin, looks toward Swenson as a mentor. She stands out in the class and craftily gets him involved reading chapters of a novel she is writing and maneuvers to get help in finding a publisher.
Timlin is excellent, playing Angela with wily sexuality that slowly but surely lures the professor into becoming attracted to her. On the one hand he tries to avoid succumbing, but on the other hand he gets closer and closer in meeting her requests for help. He is not a professor out to be a harasser or philanderer.
But temptation is temptation and he finally indulges one time in her university housing quarters after she asks him up to help with a computer.
Some may be critical of the switch from the current hunt against predatory professors to this situation in which the student is the aggressor, even though the prof is wrong to have sex with her. What eventually occurs is her turning on him and accusing him of harassment, leading to a hearing and his being judged by disapproving colleagues.
Kyra Sedgwick plays Swenson’s wife Sherrie, and she makes the most of a blistering scene when he tries to explain what happened over a dinner in a restaurant. Sedgwick burns up the screen with her response.
Peter Gallagher does a slick job as Swenson’s publisher, who initially doesn’t even want to read Angela’s manuscript but instead proposes a sensational idea for what he would like to see Swenson write.
Professor Swenson’s life becomes a shambles as a result of his sexual blunder. It is a cautionary story for men in positions of trust or power to watch their step. But it is also cautionary for those who, In their correct desire do justice to those abused, automatically assume a woman who makes an accusation is telling the truth. I would like to overhear some of the discussion this film should engender.
“Submission” is an expertly made, totally involving film that touches various controversial bases, and one comes away especially in awe of the realistic performances given by Tucci, Timlin, Sedgwick and assorted supporting cast members, including Jessica Hecht, Janeane Garofalo and David Pittu. A Paladin release. Reviewed February 28, 2018.