Secretary (Secretary - womit kann ich dienen?; 2002)

Forget 50 Shades Of Grey. Forget everything you have read about 50 Shades Of Grey. Also, forget the book’s thesis that people who enjoy getting spanked or using whips and chains in their sex life are brutal maniacs who don't give a f*** about the RACK principle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RACK). It is sad that E. L. James seems to be mentally stuck in a time long before the 21^st century. (It is also sad that her book could easily be considered a rip-off which was “inspired” by this movie.)

Luckily, some people know it is possible to tell a story about a BDSM relationship without suggesting that everyone who is not (or not exclusively) into vanilla sex is in dire need of psychoanalysis and therapy. Secretary is very moving and impressive, and Maggie Gyllenhaal will knock your socks off. Director Steven Shainberg never makes fun of the characters and tries to simply tell the story of two people who fall in love.

The young woman Lee Holloway (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal) comes home after spending a few months in a psychiatric hospital for attempting suicide. Lee insists that her being institutionalized was a misunderstanding because she never intended to kill herself (even though she has a tendency of cutting herself). She is portrayed as socially awkward, sensitive, and creative. After learning to type, she begins to work for the attorney E. Edward Grey (!!!; played by James Spader) who hires her despite her unprofessional appearance. Lee also starts to date Peter, an acquaintance from high school.

At first, Grey is very irritated by Lee’s grammar mistakes. But soon he finds himself aroused by her submissive behaviour. He openly confronts her with the problem of cutting herself and demands her not to do that again. They start a BDSM relationship in which Lee experiences a sexual and personal awakening. She stops cutting herself and falls in love with Grey. Grey, however, is concerned and ashamed about his feelings for her and eventually fires her.

Peter proposes to Lee and she reluctantly agrees to marry him. While she is trying on her wedding dress, she leaves and runs to Grey’s office to declare her love for him. 

Will the two get together?

RATING: 4.5/5