“Assume the place.”
- R
- 2002
- 1 hr 51 min
-
6.9 (103,346)
-
63
Secretary is a romantic comedy-drama that explores the connection between a boss and his secretary. It follows the story of Lee Holloway, a younger girl freshly launched from a psychological establishment after a historical past of self-harm, who will get a job as an assistant to lawyer E. Edward Gray. From the very first interview, Lee is fascinated by Gray’s conduct. He is stern, controlling, and demanding, and but there’s one thing magnetic about him. A lot to her shock, Lee finds consolation in his inflexible guidelines and excessive expectations, and he appears to understand her efforts in delivering on his requests.
Over time, their relationship takes on a extremely uncommon dynamic, with Gray turning into increasingly more controlling and Lee increasingly more submissive. Gray begins to take a eager curiosity in Lee’s private life, ensuring that she is consuming correctly, dressing appropriately, and exerting her willpower in additional constructive inventive methods. Lee, in the meantime, revels within the consideration and steering that Gray affords, permitting herself to be molded into the proper submissive spouse.
Their relationship takes an much more dramatic flip when Gray introduces Lee to the world of BDSM. At first, Lee hesitates however ultimately finds herself drawn into Gray’s world, having fun with the bodily ache and pleasure that it brings.
All through the film, we see Lee’s evolution right into a assured, confident girl who’s not afraid to face up for what she believes in. She finds herself with a newfound vibrancy and a deep sense of empowerment, relishing the way in which that Gray challenges her and pushes her past her consolation zone.
Because the story unfolds, we see that Gray is hiding traumatizing experiences of his personal and that his chilly, distant demeanor belies a deep sense of loneliness and isolation. In some ways, Lee turns into his salvation from the depths of his personal dissatisfaction.
Secretary is notable for its delicate exploration of BDSM and the way in which that it foregrounds the emotional and psychological elements of its central relationship. Its depiction of a girl discovering herself, seizing management of her personal life, and reworking her darkest impulses into power is each tender and evocative.
The film is fascinating and provocative, defying expectations at each flip. It is anchored by two good performances by Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader, who carry depth and nuance to their advanced roles. Their onscreen chemistry is palpable, and so they infuse their characters with a uncooked vulnerability that pulls the viewer in and urges them to root for his or her unlikely love story.
In brief, Secretary is a superbly crafted film that asks essential questions in regards to the nature of management, need, and human connection. Daring, daring, and deeply felt, it is a cinematic triumph that is positive to stick with viewers lengthy after the credit roll.
Secretary is a 2002 romance film with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes.
It has acquired average opinions from critics and viewers, who’ve given it an IMDb rating of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 63.