Paul Schrader’s new feature, “The Basics of Philosophy,” shown at the Venice Film Festival, stars Jack Huston as a philosophy professor who is tormented by his past. Across reviews, the film is described as an introspective character study that connects earlier wrongdoing to the way the character lives in the present.
Sources place the story in a moral and psychological context: Schrader is depicted as examining guilt, memory, and responsibility, with some reviewers emphasizing how the director confronts his own perspectives. The performances are highlighted as central to the film’s impact, and the cast is noted to include Sofia Boutella and Daniel Zavatto.
While all outlets focus on the professor’s past sins and their present-day effects, they differ in how they characterize the film’s approach and intensity. One review frames it as lurid yet quietly explosive, while another stresses deep and discomfiting thinking about guilt. Another review underscores Schrader’s long career and positions this work as a continuation of his thematic interests. One outlet also suggests the film may be less dangerous than some audiences might expect, despite its provocation.
