Secretary (2002)
0136
IMDb Rating 7.1
Front Cover Actor
James Spader E. Edward Grey
Maggie Gyllenhaal Lee Holloway
Jeremy Davies Peter
Lesley Ann Warren Joan Holloway
Stephen McHattie Burt Holloway
Patrick Bauchau Dr. Twardon
Jessica Tuck Tricia O'Connor
Oz Perkins Jonathan
Amy Locane Lee's Sister
Mary Joy Sylvia
Plot
Secretary is a kinky love story featuring a standout performance by Maggie Gyllenhaal, an offbeat young actress in her first starring role. Gyllenhaal plays Lee, a nervous girl who compulsively cuts herself, but who then gets a job as a secretary for Edward, an imperious lawyer (James Spader, an old hand at tales of perverse affection). Edward's reprimands for typos and spelling errors begin with mild humiliation, but as Lee responds to his orders--which are driven as much by his own anxieties and fears as any sense of order--the punishments escalate to spankings, shackles and more.

Secretary walks a fine line: it finds sly humour in these sadomasochistic doings without turning them into a gag and it takes Lee and Edward's mutual desires seriously without getting self-righteous or pompous. Certainly not a movie for everyone, but some people may be unexpectedly stirred up by this smart and steamy tale of repressed passion. --Bret Fetzer
Movie Details
Genre Comedy; Drama; Romance
Director Steven Shainberg
Producer Andrew Fierberg; Amy Hobby
Writer Erin Cressida Wilson; Mary Gaitskill
Country UK
Language English
Audience Rating 18 and over
Running Time 104 mins
Movie Release Date 2002
Color Color
Personal Details
Format DVD
Seen It Yes
Index 164
Collection Status In Collection
Product Details
Region Region 2
Release Date 05/01/2004
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1
Extra Features
PAL Widescreen
Links
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