I recently ventured out to my local independently-owned cinema to catch 'Good Luck to you Leo Grande'. It was a film that has been recommended by friends and colleagues. And, although I initially had reservations, I found myself enjoying it.
Some critics say it's not a film about sex work, but rather a drama about an older woman's sexual awakening. The story centres on retired teacher and widow Nancy (Emma Thompson), who arranges a session with male escort Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) in an attempt to make up for lost time and explore some of the sexual experiences she's been so far denied.
They meet in a fancy English hotel room. Aside from the briefest scenes in nearby cafes, all the 'action' takes place in that one room So it's a single-set story - very much like a play, with the room shown in various stages of presentation over weeks or months. It's a metaphor for their professional relationship - from new, untouched sheets crisp with hope and possibility, to flung pillows and disarranged luggage, as the characters search for what they desire.
From the beginning, she's overwhelmed by nerves that provoke furious, self-critical chatter. Leo Grande is the consummate escort, compassionate and self assured...but as he begins to draw out her needs, their dynamic brings less comfortable truths to the surface. The learning curve Nancy embarks on, with Leo’s compassionate guidance, is a rollercoaster of lightbulb moments, hilarious outbursts, and thorny interpersonal conflict.
Leo Grande is the consummate escort, compassionate and self assured...but as he begins to draw out her needs, their dynamic brings less comfortable truths to the surface.
The first thing to note is the obvious - the views of real sex workers were included during the making of this film. Director Sophie Hyde consulted with sex workers throughout production, and I think it shows. Actor Daryl McCormack also spent a lot of time speaking with workers. In an interview for Cinemablend, he says, ‘I was really inspired by their sense of self and the power and the boundaries that they've created to really add value in the work that they do.’
‘I was really inspired by their sense of self and the power and the boundaries that they've created to really add value in the work that they do.’
I recognised many details: the big stuff, such as using the right words. I don't think I've heard the phrase 'sex worker' uttered so often in a movie before! But there were also small things, such as a clear understanding of the awkwardness of getting intimate with someone who is paying for your company. When Nancy has retreated to the bathroom and Leo is waiting for her on the bed, his attempts to arrange himself in the sexiest pose possible made me laugh out loud, because I've done exactly the same thing. And when he gets bored and begins rummaging through the minibar instead, it recalled my experiences of filling in time during long bookings, those human moments that happen when your work persona isn't fully engaged.
This is one of the things I found most delightful about the movie, and Leo in particular. He's a sexually experienced young man, confident in his ability to guide his clients. His reassuring demeanour shows exactly what a good sex professional can achieve. But he's also a human being. He fusses about when he feels he's not being watched, shows well-mannered signs of impatience when Nancy says something ridiculous, and in those moments where their relationship falters he is occasionally at loss for what to do or say next. In short, he's not a mystical sexual guide, a 'manic pixie dream boy'. He's a person doing a job - often well, but sometimes imperfectly.
I was warned by friends that some of the scenes are a bit 'cringe', and they are - but not because the movie gets them wrong. Nancy stumbles through all the most awkward tropes about sex workers - blurting everything from 'You must think I'm a pervert' to 'Do your family know what you do for a living?'. It's hard to watch, but it's nothing I haven't heard from clients myself. I understand why these moments are included. Doubtless the audience have all this stuff on their minds, and the filmmakers wanted to address the issues rather than leave watchers to make all the wrong assumptions. Leo's subtle impatience - and his attempts to deflect her more invasive questions - hint at what all sex workers have to deal with, and how hard it is to enforce our boundaries without ruining the mood.
Leo's subtle impatience - and his attempts to deflect her more invasive questions - hint at what all sex workers have to deal with, and how hard it is to enforce our boundaries without ruining the mood.
If you're a real-life worker, you may want to brace yourself for a couple of eye-rolling conversations: a variation on 'What's the weirdest thing you've ever done with a customer?' and the predictable 'Have you ever been abused?' At the other end of the spectrum, some of the pro-sex-worker stuff, though necessary, felt a bit naff. 'It's straight from Wikipedia!' Nancy offers immediately after her spiel, self-consciously aware of the lecture-like tone of her statements on sex worker rights. Despite the difficulty of inserting the correctly-worded political take into the dialogue, I'm glad they did it. It's important.
There were times when I worried we were headed into whorephobic territory. I clutched the arm of my seat occasionally, afraid that the sex-positive 'sex work is work' bubble was about to be popped. But I don't think it ever did. We're witness to some very bad behavior on the part of Nancy (trigger warning for those who have been harassed or stalked by a client, it does feel awful and the film's treatment of those boundary violations might seem dismissive, if it's something you've experienced). But Leo is never reduced to a stereotype. McCormack does a wonderful job of playing someone who cares deeply about their work, and about sex as a political activity...but who isn't above admitting, 'I just really like it when my clients look at me and tell me I'm attractive'. His sensitivity towards Nancy's vulnerability isn't diminished by the moments of boredom or frustration he experiences on the job. (And haven't we all had those, even when we're genuinely enjoying ourselves the rest of the time?)
I was a little disappointed that everyone in the film was so goddamn beautiful. Of course, it's easier to make a movie about an older woman rediscovering her beauty and sexuality when she's already gorgeous...but I suspect a lot of clients won't see themselves in her, and that's unfortunate. Most of my customers aren't skinny. They don't have tiny bellies and slim thighs. And I think everyone deserves to feel sexy, without the movie-star body. Likewise, sex workers come in all shapes and sizes. We're not all modelesque, not are we all under thirty. But that's movies for you, I guess - in order to make this story palatable for the general public, the actors needed to look as hot as possible.
The only other thing that makes me sad is knowing that a similar story would be very hard to tell on screen if the genders were reversed. The idea that a young woman could masterfully guide an older man through body confidence issues, or heal him after losing his partner (while being paid for that emotional labor) is still hard for the world to accept. Most folks simply wouldn't be able to see that kind of film without the old whorephobic 'sex work is abuse against women' narrative creeping in...and wouldn't be satisfied without a 'big reveal' showing that the female worker was damaged all along. That sucks, because there's a lot of skill in the job. We all know that male escorts sometimes get a free pass in this regard - that they're less likely to be seen as victims. I hope that changes in the future, because we all deserve to be acknowledged as experts.
This gripe aside, the movie is lovely. I enjoyed the older-generation-coming-of-age story. Watching two very different people struggle to understand each other, bridging a generation gap with genuine intimacy, is thoroughly enjoyable. I also loved the inclusive message. Often, when we see people over 60 onscreen, they’re mocked outright for their sexual desires. If you can ignore the fact that Emma Thompson isn’t your average retiree, it’s great to see a film championing sexual pleasure and bodily autonomy for everyone, not just the young and conventionally attractive.
If you can ignore the fact that Emma Thompson isn’t your average retiree, it’s great to see a film championing sexual pleasure and bodily autonomy for everyone, not just the young and conventionally attractive.
Honestly, I was expecting to be disappointed. It's par for the course to get your hopes up about the latest 'sex-positive' release, only to discover they've gotten it terribly wrong. And when it comes to sex work, few people outside the industry - if any - have ever gotten it right. But I was pleasantly surprised. In terms of sensitivity and nuance, 'Good Luck to you, Leo Grande' is the closest thing I've ever seen to an accurate portrayal of a sex worker on film.
'Good Luck to You, Leo Grande' was first screened in Australia in June this year as part of the Sydney Film Festival. It was then released across Aussie cinemas in August. It's nearing its run in Australia, so if you're a local you may want to take a look! It's also available on Hulu in the USA.
It's definitely a film about sex work. It's unashamedly political, and I think it gets a lot of things right (if not all). But, unlike most media featuring the sex industry, it's also a story about people. The nuance of Leo and Nancy's relationship - the push-pull of their need to connect, even the cringe moments, add a richness to the situation that means we never forget they're both human beings.
It's definitely a film about sex work. It's unashamedly political, and I think it gets a lot of things right (if not all). But, unlike most media featuring the sex industry, it's also a story about people.
More so than any grand statements, it's this humanity which makes the film, for me, feel like a step in the right direction.
Are you a sex worker with a story, opinion, news or tips to share? We'd love to hear from you!
We started the tryst.link sex worker blog to help amplify those who aren't handed the mic and bring attention to the issues ya'll care about the most. Got a tale to tell? 👇☂️✨
