An offbeat love story with Maggie Gyllenhaal in an outstanding performance as a secretary who enters into an S/M relationship with her boss (James Spader). Following a failed suicide attempt and subsequent stay in a psychiatric hospital, young Lee (Maggie Gyllenhaal) returns to the stifling suburb where her family lives. Back in her old environment, she also resumes her old, self-destructive habits. To break out of the situation, she takes a job as a secretary for lawyer Edward Grey (Spader). What starts out as dull work for an eccentric boss soon blossoms into a passionate dominant-submissive love affair. Edward finds their growing codependency unhealthy and fires Lee. But Lee has never been happier and will not give up that easily...
An offbeat love story with Maggie Gyllenhaal in an outstanding performance as a secretary who enters into an S/M relationship with her boss (James Spader).
Following a failed suicide attempt and subsequent stay in a psychiatric hospital, young Lee (Maggie Gyllenhaal) returns to the stifling suburb where her family lives. Back in her old environment, she also resumes her old, self-destructive habits. To break out of the situation, she takes a job as a secretary for lawyer Edward Grey (Spader). What starts out as dull work for an eccentric boss soon blossoms into a passionate dominant-submissive love affair. Edward finds their growing codependency unhealthy and fires Lee. But Lee has never been happier and will not give up that easily...