Butley

The film opens with Butley waking in his flat, nursing a hangover. He makes his way to the Underground and, at lunchtime, drinks shots in the corridor and at a pub. This opening sequence establishes his self-destructive mood and the day that will spiral out of control.

Most of the action unfolds in Butley's office, where he bullies students, friends, and colleagues. He dominates the conversations, mocks others, and uses Joey as an unwilling confidant and assistant. The space becomes a claustrophobic theatre for power, control, and tension.

Through scene after scene, we learn Joey is more than a former student; he is Butley's assistant who remains for power and dependency. Butley hints at grooming him and keeping him close, treating loyalty as currency. The dynamic blurs lines between mentor, lover, and captor.

On the same day, Butley faces fractures in his relationships as he mentions a string of divorces. Joey reveals he has met someone else (Reg), while Butley pretends not to hear Reg's name. The revelation deepens the day's volatility and sense of betrayal.

The dialogue erupts into a long, unremitting torrent of insults, including hostile and homophobic remarks. Butley targets students, friends, and even objects like a chair, exposing his reckless contempt for those around him. The tirade marks a brutal rupture in his facade of authority.

Reg confronts Butley, and the tension erupts into a physical confrontation as Reg punches him. The fight shatters the illusion of Butley's control and accelerates the unraveling of the day. The moment crystallizes the consequences of his cruelty.

Joey, though briefly moved by compassion, begins planning his escape. He gathers his belongings and moves to a new, tiny office that has just been vacated by Edna, signaling a severing of their professional and personal ties. The change marks a concrete step toward ending their arrangement.

The breakup pattern plays out in both home and work settings, with Butley unable to maintain his grip on anyone around him. He fights to salvage status, but the space grows more claustrophobic and hostile. The day culminates in a collapse of his influence and self-image.

A new student arrives for a tutorial, and Butley immediately resumes his combative, belittling approach. He asserts authority through insults and manipulative lectures, showing no restraint. The student's reaction foreshadows the day’s ultimate rejection.

Butley continues verbally attacking the new student, illustrating the depth of his cruelty. The student leaves with a look of disgust, marking the beginning of the end for any possibility of reform. The scene reinforces the cycle of abuse that defines his day.

The day closes with Butley alone, still ranting and unable to connect meaningfully with others. His rage remains unchecked as the world around him shrinks away. The final mood is one of unresolved despair rather than redemption.

Throughout the film, Butley's persona as a T. S. Eliot scholar contrasts with his cruel behavior, revealing a troubling disconnect between intellect and morality. The day punctuates his decline and the costs of power without empathy. The ending underscores the tragedy of a man undone by his own patterns of abuse.

In the last beat, Butley turns the session toward a new student, showing the cycle is ready to continue. An initial spark of fresh hope is crushed as he unloads more abuse, leaving the student to walk away in contempt. The film ends with no resolution, only the persistence of his corrosive behavior.