The Sleeping Dictionary (2003)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Guy Jenkin

Writer:

Guy Jenkin (writer)

Release Date:

31 January 2003 (Mexico)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Learn to speak her language.

Plot:

An eager young Englishman is dispatched to Sarawak to become part of the British colonial government...

Plot Keywords:

Colony | Love | Chinese | Husband Wife Relationship | Tracker

Awards:

4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Jessica Alba	...	Selima
Brenda Blethyn	...	Aggie
Hugh Dancy	...	John Truscott
Bob Hoskins	...	Henry
Christopher Ling Lee Ian	...	Jasmine
Junix Inocian	...	Famous
Michael Jessing Langgi	...	Melaka
Mano Maniam	...	Policeman
K.K. Moggie	...	Tipong
Emily Mortimer	...	Cecil
Cicilia Anak Richard	...	Jester Woman
Malcolm Rogers	...	Vicar
Eugene Salleh	...	Belansai
Noah Taylor	...	Neville
Kate Helen White	...	Mandar

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:12 | Iceland:12 | Finland:K-11 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Brazil:12 | Germany:12 | USA:R | Canada:14A

Filming Locations:

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Company:

Fine Line Features

Trivia:

The film used more than 600 Iban extras.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Selima and Truscott are given the turquoise bracelets, she takes Truscott's off and wears it. In the next shot, she gives him hers but she's still holding his.

Quotes:

Neville: Welcome back to hell.
[Shakes John's hand]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

Soundtrack:

Mango Tango

A Classic Love vs Tradition Story

I watched this film after reading the reviews made by others here and i have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it even if I am, outwardly, the perfect example of emotionally repressed male.

Firstly, it isn't going to win Oscars for anything really but that really isn't the point at all and nor should it be. It's a gentle, almost passive, love story that focuses in on the characters but uses their respective backgrounds and the limitations of their society's expectations as a character in its own right. All set in a time and place sufficiently remote to suspend disbelief, but close enough, to enable the viewer to relate.

It's well written, directed, filmed and acted with the actors delivering more than adequate performances that are sufficient to actually care what happens to them.

For the repressed male, like me, who is considering watching this film out of duty to his girlfriend, don't be disheartened you will most likely enjoy it if you allow yourself to. If nothing else the lovely Jessica Alba continues to enchant the male audience with nothing but her screen presence and in some scenes her lack of clothes.

For the female and non-repressed males, I recommend this film to you, not as classic but a sweet, enchanting and humorous love story. You will no doubt only watch the film once but then repeated viewings will add little.

It is what it is and nothing more but for a film of this type that's all it should be and that's all it tries to be.

For this reason and this reason only I gave this film 9/10 for they achieved what they set out to achieve