The Browning Version (1994)

In the esteemed halls of a British public school, strides the embittered figure of Andrew Crocker-Harris (Albert Finney), a long-serving educator of Greek and Latin, who carries the weight of his failed life on his weary shoulders. Regarded with a mix of fear and loathing, akin to that for a dictator, his nearly two decades of service is coming to an abrupt end, masked under the guise of health concerns. The specter of a future without a pension looms ominously, further deepening his sense of despair. In the midst of this turmoil, his wife Laura (Greta Scacchi), who carries her own arsenal of secrets and infidelities, takes pleasure in twisting the knife already lodged deeply in his heart. Andrew's existence, teetering on the edge of complete disillusionment, is void of any self-respect. Enter Taplow (Ben Silverstone), a student whose presence sparks an unexpected change in the worn-out teacher's life. A transformative interaction between the master and student rekindles a flicker of self-worth within Andrew. This newfound self-perception becomes a beacon, guiding him towards acceptance of his forced retirement and enabling him to exit the academic world with his dignity intact. In the heart-wrenching narrative that is The Browning Version, viewers are taken on an emotional journey as a man caught in the throes of personal and professional defeat miraculously finds the strength to reclaim his self-respect, one step at a time.

The Browning Version is a drama movie featuring Albert Finney and directed by Mike Figgis.

The Browning Version is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.

It is also possible to buy The Browning Version on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu and YouTube.