Schrader Debuts 26th Film at Venice as 'The Basics of Philosophy' Seeks U.S. Distribution
Updated
Updated · IndieWire · Sep 4
Schrader Debuts 26th Film at Venice as 'The Basics of Philosophy' Seeks U.S. Distribution
3 articles · Updated · IndieWire · Sep 4
Summary
Venice hosted the premiere of Paul Schrader’s “The Basics of Philosophy,” a 1-hour-34-minute drama centered on a philosophy professor confronting a past sexual abuse case.
Jack Huston plays the academic opposite Daniel Zovatto as the former 14-year-old pupil, with the film tying that reckoning to themes of religious guilt, repression and moral exposure.
The review describes Schrader’s 26th feature as technically strong and visually striking, but says its treatment of homosexuality alongside pedophilia is provocative and narratively muddled.
The film is Schrader’s first since a 2025 former assistant accused him of sexual misconduct, allegations he denied, a backdrop likely to shape reactions as it looks for a U.S. distributor.