Project Detail

The Education of Jane Cumming

Synopsis

1810. Two governesses embark on their dream of opening a school for girls on the edge of Scotland’s capital, their chance of an independent life is threatened by the arrival of a new pupil, an orphan, and her aristocratic grandmother. As the pressures of class, race and deeply suppressed emotion build at Drumsheugh boarding school, a series of tragically avoidable events lead to the telling of one irreversible lie. At a time of great social conformity – accused of lesbianism – the resulting scandal leaves the teachers fighting for their livelihoods.
Based on the book 'Scotch Verdict: The Real-Life Story That Inspired 'The Children's Hour'' by Lillian Faderman.
Official Selection Berlin International Film Festival 2026 - Panorama - World premiere

Details

Year: 2026
Type of project: Features
Running time: 114 min
Director: Sophie Heldman
Producer: Bettina Brokemper, Karin Koch
Co-Producer: Nadira Murray
Executive Producer: Susan Simnett
Screenwriter: Sophie Heldman, Flora Nicholson
Director of Photography: Kate Reid
Principal cast: Flora Nicholson, Clare Dunne, Mia Tharia, Fiona Shaw, Stephen McCole
Film Title Note: FKA Miss Pirie and Miss Woods

Genre

Scottish Woman Director Drama

Production Status

Complete

Production Company

Supported by BFI UK Global Screen Fund

UK, Germany, Switzerland co-production

Sylph Productions (UK), Heimatfilm (DE), Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion AG (CH)

Sylph Productions

Nadira Murray

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Sales Company

Global Constellation

Lorenzo Bellassai

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This page was last updated on 24th February 2026. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

Suggest amendments

Set in the summer of 2000, 14 year old Lucian explores his sexuality through fantasy in a pre-internet world. Lucian is a 14 year closeted gay kid going through puberty. He doesn’t know how to communicate in a world that doesn’t speak his language so he lives in isolation, observing the world as an outsider. With the fear of ever exposing who he really is, Lucian seeks comfort in fantasy and lives his life in a daydream.

LGBTQIA+