Secretary

The 2002 film Secretary, directed by Steven Shainberg, explores the complexities of human relationships, consent, and the blurred lines between professional and personal boundaries. The movie's narrative is driven by the intricate dynamic between Lee Holloway (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal), a young woman struggling to cope with her recent release from a mental institution, and E. Edward Grey (played by James Spader), a demanding and enigmatic lawyer. Lee's troubled past and her obsessive personality traits have led to her institutionalization and subsequent return to the world outside. She believes that she can redeem herself by becoming a "normal" member of society, which prompts her to apply for various secretarial jobs. Her most unusual application is for a position with E. Edward Grey, a lawyer with an imposing reputation and a façade of intellectual superiority. Grey, on the hand, is depicted as a man consumed by his profession and devoid of emotional connection. His persona is shrouded in mystery, as he maintains a secretive and detached demeanor in his personal and professional life. His interactions with his current employees, especially in his staff meetings, display a tyrannical streak and an unparalleled air of disdain. Lee's arrival at the law firm marks the beginning of an unlikely and intense employer-employee relationship. Throughout the film, the plot focuses on the intricacies of this relationship, and it is revealed that Grey harbors a secret desire for individuals to submit to his will and expectations, on a certain level. This shared desire brings about a complex admixture of the cruel along with the endearing motivations. Eventually, Lee becomes drawn to Grey's fascination with discipline, understanding of repressed emotions, and his disconcerting confidence in meeting her unmet needs. Grey is an unusual person who runs his professional life with precision and extreme discipline, in contrast Lee struggles with ordinary office work and the strictest hierarchical etiquette at the workplace, her individual difficulties stem from traumatic events and deeply ingrained anxieties that he can empathize with. One could argue that this film does contain certain elements of fetishism; however, given its' nuanced portrayal it should be fairly categorised as a moral exploration and not sensational material. It is worth noting that these extreme acts, are framed positively by Grey, but most others are presented with a strong negative context. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that their apparent employer-employee dynamic is actually a masked version of a sadomasochistic dance. The two characters bond over their shared desire for discipline and control, with Lee serving as Grey's willing apprentice. Even though Lee is also depicted as a strong, capable and determined character. Despite their individual complexities and constraints, they navigate a delicate power struggle within the confines of their very fragile relationship. Their increasingly explicit interactions illustrate the intensity of their bond and demonstrate a deep mutual understanding. Lee's vulnerabilities are slowly released, since she finds genuine freedom in Grey's guidance and in the connection she establishes with him. Grey, in turn, experiences a mixture of satisfaction and guilt; he has discovered someone who satisfies his particular tastes, but at the same time, acknowledges the risks of his attachment to Lee. As the scene unfolds, their once-separate lives merge into a distorted yet unique rapport, blurring the very thin line between their domestic lives as an obscure office romance. Notably, neither party views this obsession with a fixed sense of intention and their relationship transcends ordinary ones. Throughout the narrative, the viewer begins to realize the reason behind Grey's peculiar stance on discipline; the way he skillfully analyzes and understands human behavior before assigning a specific label or interpretation is deeply impressive. Lee, however, struggles to cope with the inherent duality of their relationship, as she oscillates between reciprocating a normal office dynamic and a dark sadomasochistic partnership. The visual and thematic motifs of the film, especially its minimal use of background music, become yet another showcase for this on-screen tension between reality and fantasy, with both partners stepping off from reality's traditional narratives at the same time. With an increase in complexity in the 3rd act plot it becomes profoundly evident that being deep in a role-playing scenario as was frequently the case in their complex, twisted encounters cannot have sustained a normal and respectable office relationship and it also intensifies their mutually felt guilt. Grey conveys a multifaceted sense of isolation and vulnerability, not exactly like typical characters, and his relationships frequently seem out-of-date. Unconventional perspectives and perspectives lead Lee towards an unspoken passion and these make the movie to be an utterly unusual dramatic portrayal of the complexity of passions and human emotion. In the final act, their power dynamic begins to shift, signifying a final push towards the end of their secret partnership. It becomes a complex realization of what kind of profession they're engaged in, all the office affairs get twisted in the reality of their current position. Ultimately, their once enigmatic attachment comes to be reciprocated and the way they close this strange office romance gives viewers the impression of a deeply unusual tragic twist, but it can't stop helping to establish that they're truly happy in a more normal relationship setup.