# Movie review: Scent of a Woman

My reaction to the movie as a not so pro movie watcher
October 13, 2025 · 5 min · Iman Alipour Comments

I’m not a big movie watcher. In fact, I don’t remember the last time I watched a whole movie in a single day. It’s not that I don’t enjoy it, it’s that I want to do this with at least another person. It feels much better to not be alone when watching a movie for me for some reason. Buuuut, I watched Scent of a Woman on Sunday, and after my therapist encouraged me to do so.

Few points before I begin.

- This was aside from the therapy session.
- My therapist does not tell me what to do, or if I’m wrong or right or anything like that.
- I watched this movie in about two parts in a single day!
- I knew Al Pacino’s face from Godfather series, but didn’t know his name.
- I’m not a big movie person, so whatever I say should be taken with a grain of salt. Just don’t be offended, take it face up and as is.

The movie is about a good young student named Chris O’Donnell, played by Charlie Simms ,who is dependent on a scholarship to continue his studies after school, worthy of going to Harvard.

The second main character of the movie is a blind man called Lt. Col. Frank Slade, played by Al Pacino, who is an arrogant, rude, assertive, proud, self-centered person that gives bad vibes throughout the movie.

Chris needs to work over the thanksgiving weekend, just to be able to make it home during Christmas. He lives with his mother, and a not so nice step-father who isn’t really there for him.

When taking the job to watch over Frank, he quickly realizes what a hard task this will be, but the lady who hires him (Karen Rossie) being his niece assures him that he is a pile of suger under these bad vibes, and that she needs him to do this for her for these fea days. At last Chris agrees.

Upon Karen’s leaving, Frank gets ready for a trip to New York. To do his last vows before taking his own life without Chris knowing this.

He plans staying at a nice hotel, having an awesome Meal at a gorgeous restaurant, seeing a woman, his brother, and then taking his own life.

Frank is in love with Jack Daniel’s and cannot get enough of it. Throughout the movie this drunk, addiction-like behaviour is portrayed.

Frank also learns about a problem Chris is facing. Chris is being forced to snitch on a group of the people he knows, or he will be expelled and loses his chance to got o Harvard with another scholarship. He doesn’t want to snitch, but frank learns about this, he encourages him to take the deal.

Frank then tries to teach Chris how to flirt, how to get woman, and how to be a gentleman. There is an amazing scene in the movie where Frank tries to setup Chris with a girl who is waiting for her boyfriend! He dances Tango with her and this scene is probably the most majestic scene in any movie I have ever seen. The feelings I got were so strong and positive that I just cannot express!

In the end, when Frank wants to take his own life, Chris stops him and talks him out of it. He helps him to ride a Ferrari, the second thing he liked in his life (the first thing was woman lmao!). A police officer stopped them because they were going too fast, and Frank spoke his way out of the ticket! The officer didn’t even recognize Frank was blind!!!!

After these emotional roller coaster, Chris became ever-so attached to Frank, and so did Frank become attached to Chris, showing up to an open student hearing in place of Chris’s parent.

Chris ended up not snitching, and Frank spoke up for him, saying how big of a man is he! How valuable he is, and how disgusting the acts of the other kid who also could snitch but hid behind his father’s back was.

In essense, the movie was amazing, with great acting all over it. The characters portreayed their roles as amazingly as possible. I loved the movie and how we got to know the characters more and more as the movie went on, and how the story progressed.

The story was also amazing. Characters really added life to the scenes by their amazing play. Donna did the tango dance professionaly. Al Pacino played to role of a blind man very well, you would easily be fooled by his amazing acting.

That leaves me thinking about why did my therapist suggested me to watch this movie and asked me to tell him how I felt and how I thought about the movie?

Was it about Frank? That I was trying to be Chris, protecting and caring for Frank, although his behaviour is horrible? But Frank gave so much back to Chris. I guess it is the same for me too, I’m also getting a lot back while making some sacrifices.

Or maybe was it about that amazing Tango dancing scene? The sensations that Frank describes about relationships, and how he interacts with woman?

I honestly do not know. I just know that watching the movie gave me good feelings. That I’m a happier Iman than the Iman I was before watching it. That my feelings and experiences are not abnormal, they are valid. That I’m on the right track, but still need time to figure out the way. That I shouldn’t worry too much. That I should look at everything as a way to have “fun”. That I shouldn’t overthink things. That if I mess up, oh well, I should take the responsibility and move on.

I don’t know what the intention of my therapist was, but I’m so curious! I want to figure it out. :) Fell free to cross your fingers for me!

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