‘The Basics of Philosophy’ Review: Paul Schrader Does Some Deep — and Discomfiting — Thinking About a College Professor’s Guilt

Paul Schrader's new feature, The Basics of Philosophy, stars Jack Huston, Sofia Boutella, and Daniel Zavatto. This morally complex drama serves as an unadorned exploration of guilt, transgression, and the intellectual effort required for redemption. The film focuses on a college professor wrestling with a vile past deed and the weight of sin. Schrader utilizes the narrative to examine how past sins affect present life, blending deep thinking with the philosophical influence of Spinoza.