Secretary [Repackaged New Artwork]

Director: Steven Shainberg Steven Shainberg

Overview

Sadomasochism provides the backdrop for a very unusual employer/employee relationship in this very offbeat romantic drama from filmmaker Steven Shainberg. Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a shy young woman, who, after a brief spell in a mental institution, is released in the care of her overprotective mother (Lesley Ann Warren) and hard-drinking father (Stephen McHattie). Hoping to make good on her own, Lee begins looking for a job, and in her free time indulges in her odd habit of inflicting pain upon herself in various ways. Lee is hired as a secretary by E. Edward Grey (James Spader), a grim and ruthlessly efficient attorney who warns her that her work will be both dull and demanding. Lee takes to the job with genuine enthusiasm, and while she's recently acquired a new boyfriend, Peter (Jeremy Davies), she's far more intrigued by Grey's coldly patrician demeanor. While Grey often criticizes Lee, she seems to thrive on his abuse, but one day he crosses a line when he insists upon spanking her after some minor mistake. Lee quite enjoys the treatment, and wants it to continue, but Grey can no longer take pleasure humiliating Lee when he knows that she likes it; he fires her, despite her pleas to be allowed to stay. Finally discovering the key to her sexual and emotional needs, Lee tries to persuade Peter to be rough with her, but he simply doesn't have the taste or talent for it, and Lee soon maps out a last-ditch effort to win back her position with Grey, whatever the cost. Secretary won a special award for "Originality" at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/15/2008
UPC:	0658149236202
Original Release:	2002
Rating:	R
Source:	Lions Gate
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:51:00
Sales rank:	13,920

Special Features

Writer and director commentary; Behind the scenes featurette; Photo gallery

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

James Spader	Mr. Grey
Maggie Gyllenhaal	Lee
Jeremy Davies	Peter
Lesley Ann Warren	Joan
Stephen McHattie	Burt
Patrick Bauchau	Dr. Twardon
Jessica Tuck	Tricia
Oz Perkins	Jonathan
Amy Locane	Lee's Sister
Mary Joy	Sylvia
Michael Mantell	Stewart
Sabrina Grdevich	Allison
Lacey Kohl	Louisa
Julene Renee	Jessica
Lily Knight	Paralegal,Paralegal Secretary
Lauren Cohn	First Secretary
Ezra Buzzington	Typing Teacher
Kyle Colerider-Krugh	Mr. Garvey
Steven Fierberg	First Date
Russell Harper	Second Date
Shannon Convery	New Secretary
Alison Tatlock	TV Reporter
Angelo Badalamenti	Composer

Technical Credits

Erin Cressida Wilson

Steven Shainberg	Director,Producer
Erin Cressida Wilson	Screenwriter
Ignacio Alvarez	Stunts
Randall Balsmeyer	Special Effects
Jamie Beardsley	Executive Producer
Andrew Fierberg	Producer
Amy Hobby	Producer
Ellen Parks	Casting
P.J. Posner	Executive Producer,Executive Producer
Michael Roban	Executive Producer
Tom Varga	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Maggie Gyllenhaal's first starring role provides her with the opportunity to explore a rather demanding character, which she performs with depth and humor in Secretary. As Lee Holloway, she portrays a young woman with a strange addiction to pain, but remains engaging and easily empathized with. Lee's endeavors in the "real" world, after a youth with an emotionally disruptive family life, prove to be a bizarre representation of one's willingness to comply, in order to fulfill one's desires. By taking a secretarial job with E. Edward Grey (James Spader), she learns that taking orders is not only within her capacity as an employee, but in fact, serves a higher purpose for the whole of her person. Gyllenhaal makes magic as Lee, with a blatantly erotic upward gaze somehow innocent enough to leave both Mr. Grey and the audience wondering whether Lee -- or Gyllenhaal herself -- is aware of just how hot she really is. Lee becomes both emotionally and physically charged by her encounters with Spader's Mr. Grey, who issues commands in an unbearably sexy low voice. Spader's attractive forcefulness equals Gyllenhaal's more vulnerable role in its effectiveness of characterization. Tenaciously exacting, Mr. Grey's affection for obedience turns darkly appealing when sexy Spader ruthlessly delivers his demands. This strong opposition might suggest issues of stereotypical gender roles, but the film does not presume to make generalizations. Instead, it speaks specifically of the circumstances within one unique relationship that will define itself by the needs of the two individuals involved, however disturbing they may be. Within the deep mental and emotional issues of a somewhat alternative relationship, director Steven Shainberg creates a careful balance of mood using well-timed humor to prevent getting bogged down by the severity of the story. Meanwhile, the film pushes the boundaries of the R rating by use of implication. The things it doesn't show explicitly -- like masturbation -- are more than hinted at, while not officially breaking any limits. Taking metaphor to the extreme, Secretary allows access to the laughter and the pain of love in raw form.