Hands up who likes “Sleeping Beauty”? Actually, I was thinking less of the fairy story than the latest – far darker – movie by that name, entered for the Competition at this month’s Cannes Film Festival, starring Emily Browning:
Here’s the synopsis, transcribed from the promotional website:
Death-haunted, quietly reckless, Lucy is a young university student who takes a job as a Sleeping Beauty. In the sleeping Beauty Chamber old men seek an erotic experience that requires Lucy’s absolute submission. This unsettling task starts to bleed into Lucy’s daily life and she develops an increasing need to know what happens to her when she is asleep.
The site features an evocative trailer (which I would probably class as unsafe for work)! The voiceover is moody, atmospheric – an older woman speaking:
Thank you for coming. Such a pleasure to see such a unique beauty. Let me tell you how I think we should proceed…I’ll describe the job and then, if you’re interested, we’ll discuss particulars.
You will be working with other girls, some of who will have more responsibilities. There is room for promotion. We rely on mutual trust and discretion. And I am obliged to tell you that there are heavy penalties – very heavy penalties – for any breaches of discretion. Am I clear?
This is clearly edgy stuff. And, it has to be said, it’s been sparking all sorts of fantasies – about the girl’s training; about what’s done to her; about, most of all, about the ‘penalties’.