Scent of a Woman
A cash-strapped boarding-school student escorts a blind, self-destructive army colonel through Thanksgiving New York, discovering an unlikely bond that tests courage and compassion.
Overview
A blind veteran's Thanksgiving adventure leads to unexpected lessons in life and friendship.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- abrasive
- melancholic
- thoughtful movie night
- character drama marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly agreed that Al Pacino's commanding performance elevates a conventional, overlong drama centered on an unlikely intergenerational friendship.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Frank Slade's Thanksgiving journey with student Charlie develops into a mutually transformative bond.
Frank is blind and reliant on others, yet insists on controlling his movements, choices, and public identity.
Charlie attends the affluent Baird school on a bursary and faces pressure from privileged classmates and administrators.
Critical consensus repeatedly identifies Al Pacino's large, bold, occasionally over-the-top portrayal of Frank as the film's defining strength.
Films like Scent of a Woman, and why
The Intouchables
shared themes of mentorship, troubled masculinity, emotional redemption, and a powerful central performance
Finding Forrester
shared coming-of-age drama, cross-generational friendship, and bittersweet emotional warmth
Gran Torino
shared themes of damaged veterans, personal dignity, and an abrasive protagonist seeking connection
Dead Poets Society
shared school setting, moral courage, mentorship, and inspirational dramatic tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Martin Brest
- Release Date
- 1992-12-23
- Runtime
- 156 min
- Rating
- 7.8 / 10 (4104)
Cast
- Al Pacino
- Chris O'Donnell
- James Rebhorn
- Gabrielle Anwar
- Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Richard Venture
- Bradley Whitford
- Ron Eldard
- Rochelle Oliver
- Margaret Eginton
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Scent of a Woman about?
- A cash-strapped boarding-school student escorts a blind, self-destructive army colonel through Thanksgiving New York, discovering an unlikely bond that tests courage and compassion.
- What is Scent of a Woman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Scent of a Woman as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Scent of a Woman violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Scent of a Woman.
- What did critics think of Scent of a Woman?
- Critics broadly agreed that Al Pacino's commanding performance elevates a conventional, overlong drama centered on an unlikely intergenerational friendship.
- Which films are like Scent of a Woman?
- Films with a similar feel include The Intouchables, Finding Forrester, Gran Torino, and Dead Poets Society.
- How long is Scent of a Woman?
- Scent of a Woman runs 156 minutes.
- Where can I watch Scent of a Woman?
- In United States, Scent of a Woman is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling.
