Lucy (Emily Browning) is a university student drifting through a series of dead-end jobs—copy clerk, office temp, medical test subject. She answers an ad for a different kind of work: “Young, pretty girls for elegant, private gatherings.” Soon, she’s promoted to a more specific role. She drinks tea laced with something strong. She falls into a deep, dreamless sleep. Men pay to lie beside her, fully clothed, doing nothing—or nearly nothing. Waking is forbidden. Touch is regulated. Consent is signed away on a yellow legal pad.
Next: -15. Something lighter, maybe. Or maybe not. -16 - Sleeping Beauty -2011-
It’s the sterility . The white sheets. The brownstone silence. The way Lucy walks through the world like she’s already anaesthetized. Leigh films everything in flat, unflinching light. No score to guide your feelings. You’re left alone with the mechanics: the teacup, the key, the robe, the bed. Lucy (Emily Browning) is a university student drifting
Late night, no particular season
★★★½ But don’t let the stars fool you. You won’t enjoy this. You’ll just feel it sitting next to you in the dark for days. She falls into a deep, dreamless sleep