Directed by:
Steven ShainbergScreenplay:
Erin Cressida WilsonCinematography:
Steven FierbergComposer:
Angelo BadalamentiCast:
James Spader, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jeremy Davies, Lesley Ann Warren, Stephen McHattie, Patrick Bauchau, Jessica Tuck, Osgood Perkins, Amy Locane (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
Maggie Gyllenhaal stars in this off-beat comedy that looks at the world of sado-masochism. Lee Holloway (Gyllenhaal) has recently left a mental institute and has been released into the care of her over-bearing mother and alcoholic father. Determined to get her life together, she gets a job as a secretary for an attorney she does her best to please. But when her new boss, E. Edward Grey (James Spader), finds fault with her typing and begins to administer a rather unconventional kind of punishment (he spanks her), Lee realises that she quite enjoys it. However, Grey sacks her because he can't enjoy humiliating her when he knows she secretly likes it. But Lee has now developed a taste for it and will try anything to get back as Grey's secretary. (Palisades Tartan Video GB)
(more)Awards
- Winner
- Nominations
Independent Spirit Awards
- 2003 - Erin Cressida Wilson (Best First Screenplay)
- 2003 - Amy Hobby, Andrew Fierberg, Steven Shainberg (Best Feature)
- 2003 - Maggie Gyllenhaal (Best Female Lead)
British Independent Film Awards (BIFA)
- 2003 - Best Foreign Independent - Foreign Language
Golden Globes
- 2003 - Maggie Gyllenhaal (Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy)
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
- 2002 - Amy Hobby (Golden Orange Award)
- 2002 - Maggie Gyllenhaal (Pauline Kael Breakout Award)
Sundance Film Festival
- 2002 - Steven Shainberg (U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Originality of Vision)
- 2002 - Steven Shainberg (U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic)