IMDb > Secretary (2002)
Secretary
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Secretary (2002) More at IMDbPro »

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Secretary (2002) -- A young woman, recently released from a mental hospital, gets a job as a secretary to a demanding lawyer, where their employer-employee relationship turns into a sexual, sadomasochistic one.
Secretary (2002) -- Theatrical Preview
Secretary (2002) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   27,337 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 80% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Erin Cressida Wilson (screenplay)
Mary Gaitskill (short story)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Secretary on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 November 2002 (Israel) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Assume the position. more
Plot:
A young woman, recently released from a mental hospital, gets a job as a secretary to a demanding lawyer, where their employer-employee relationship turns into a sexual, sadomasochistic one. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 14 wins & 17 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(58 articles)
User Comments:
Intriguing story more (362 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for strong sexuality, some nudity, depiction of behavioral disorders, and language.
Runtime:
104 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Two posters were made for this film, one showing leads James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal and the other showing a model from behind bending over. Gyllenhaal admitted that the model was not her but it was someone who was dating her ex-boyfriend. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: The car driven by Lee's mother shows a front license plate. Florida does not issue front license plates, only rear ones. more
Quotes:
E. Edward Grey: [Mr. Grey is prescribing Lee's dinner] One scoop of creamed potatoes. A slice of butter. Four peas. And as much ice cream as you'd like to eat. more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
It's So Strange (The Way Love Works) more

FAQ

What's up with the worm?
more
140 out of 147 people found the following comment useful.
Intriguing story, 17 June 2003
Author: Danny_G13 from Glasgow, Scotland

Secretary is the first of its kind - a very dark love story. First of its kind in that it deals with themes never seen before seen in mainstream Hollywood cinema - S&M, sexual dominance and submission.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is outstanding in a potential minefield of a role - she handles it with dignity and even provides some effective dark humour.

The story here is that her character, Lee, applies for a job as a secretary for the firm owned by James Spader's brilliant Mr Grey. However, Lee has a history of self-harm and masochism and Grey has a dominance complex along with a very sadistic streak. Combine these 2 in theory and you have 2 very happy people. But this is no ordinary love story...

Spader, as stated, is brilliant. He brings an icy steel to the troubled Grey, but also provides a touch of black humour which comes at some great moments to 'release the tension'.

For the themes supplied here you'd probably expect a lot of raunchiness - well there are sexual moments, of course, but there is nothing gratuitous, which is in itself an achievement and well handled.

Overall it's quirky, off-beat, and a little bit different.

Worth a view.

Was the above comment useful to you?
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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Secretary (2002)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Can spanking a child be considered sexual abuse? RKent1989
mastubation scene kitteninparis
BDSM + lifestyle oldhollywoodbuff
OT: A long-awaited celebrity 'coming-out'! owenrcarpenter
Comfort Room Scene.. help.. glossed_lips04-1
Mary Travers R.I.P. Raw_Honey
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