Search - Secretary on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Nudity, Adult Situations, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children, Profanity Movie Release: 2002 DVD Release: 04/01/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 51 mins Studio: Lions Gate Members Wishing: 14 Genres: Comedy Drama, Romance, Black Comedy, Psychological Drama, Sex Comedy See Also: Secretary [Repackaged New Artwork]

Sadomasochism provides the backdrop for a very unusual employer/employee relationship in this very offbeat romantic drama from filmmaker Steven Shainberg. Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a shy young woman, who, after a brief spell in a mental institution, is released in the care of her overprotective mother (Lesley Ann Warren) and hard-drinking father (Stephen McHattie). Hoping to make good on her own, Lee begins looking for a job, and in her free time indulges in her odd habit of inflicting pain upon herself in various ways. Lee is hired as a secretary by E. Edward Grey (James Spader), a grim and ruthlessly efficient attorney who warns her that her work will be both dull and demanding. Lee takes to the job with genuine enthusiasm, and while she's recently acquired a new boyfriend, Peter (Jeremy Davies), she's far more intrigued by Grey's coldly patrician demeanor. While Grey often criticizes Lee, she seems to thrive on his abuse, but one day he crosses a line when he insists upon spanking her after some minor mistake. Lee quite enjoys the treatment, and wants it to continue, but Grey can no longer take pleasure humiliating Lee when he knows that she likes it; he fires her, despite her pleas to be allowed to stay. Finally discovering the key to her sexual and emotional needs, Lee tries to persuade Peter to be rough with her, but he simply doesn't have the taste or talent for it, and Lee soon maps out a last-ditch effort to win back her position with Grey, whatever the cost. Secretary won a special award for "Originality" at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Maggie Gyllenhaal - Lee Holloway
James Spader - E. Edward Grey
Jeremy Davies - Peter
Lesley Ann Warren - Joan Holloway

Director Steven Shainberg and screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson bring Mary Gaitskill's short story to the big screen with the 2002 film Secretary, released on DVD by Lion's Gate. Presented with a widescreen anamorphic transfer enhanced for 16 x 9 televisions. Audio is available in English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo with subtitles in English and Spanish. Also includes an audio commentary track with the director and screenwriter. "Behind the Secretary" is a seven-minute short featurette containing interviews with the director and lead actors James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Other bonus materials include trailers for Secretary and Shainberg's previous film Hit Me, along with a photo gallery of on-set snapshots. This disc is highly recommended for viewers who are willing to acknowledge that there is a little bit of eroticism in just about anything. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide