History Film / Secretary

A 2002 [[{{dramedy}} comedy-drama]] film written and directed by Steven Shainberg, ''Secretary'' is either a well-loved examination of an unusual romance, or a stunningly bad portrayal of an unusual romance. Or [[TakeAThirdOption just downright disturbing.]]

* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: [[spoiler:Given by Lee]] near the end of the film.

* AsideGlance: In the last scene, Lee suddenly looks straight into the camera -- and the effect is quite powerful.
* BathroomControl: At one point, as a part of their dom-sub dynamic, Edward tells Lee to sit in the chair until he returns, knowing full well she won't be able to use the toilet - and she eventually wets herself.

* BigDamnKiss[=/=]OfficialKiss: Averted, as FirstKiss is not shown on the screen, and all the kisses which ARE shown are somehow non-standard (e.g., the characters AlmostKiss, one of them doesn't close their eyes etc.)

* CreatorCameo: In a scene where three people are waiting for Mr. Grey in the office, one of them is screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson.

* DisposableFiance: Deconstructed, in a way. Lee agrees to marry Peter even though she doesn't really have a romantic connection with him, and doesn't enjoy the sex. The only reason she agrees to marry him is because she can't find a normal relationship after Edward fires her, and when she breaks it off she does it in a pretty insensitive way, not giving him a clear reason and not acting like she doesn't want to marry him until she delivers it as bluntly as possible.
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Both characters had a hard time earning it.

* FanDisservice: Maggie Gyllenhall's bare thighs, yay! Except she's mutilating herself with a sharpened ballerina doll and scalding herself with a hot kettle... not so yay.

* HowWeGotHere: The opening scene finds Lee in what's eventually revealed to be Mr. Grey's office, going about her regular routine--stapling some papers together, retrieving something from the printer, making coffee. The only odd thing about it is that she is wearing a restraining device, a long bar with a collar around her neck and cuffs for both of her wrists, which forces both her arms to extend out sideways from her shoulders. After the scene ends a "six months earlier" card takes us to the beginning of the story.
* IdealizedSex: Averted ''except'' for the ''basic premise''. Being one of the very few romantic comedies about BDSM, it is also one of very few romantic comedies that starts with the protagonist getting out of a mental hospital (and she didn't end up there out of some wacky misunderstanding).

* IntertwinedFingers: After the well-known spanking scene. Very brief and subtle.

* IUhYouToo: Edward near the end of the movie.
* KinkySpanking: Lee Holloway's boss, Mr. Grey, was originally spanking Lee for typos.
* KubrickStare: Lee, at her desk, shoots one of these at an unseeing Edward right before she deliberately leaves a typo in one of her letters, so he can spank her for it.
* LoveLetter: Subverted: Edward's short letter is never sent, and Lee's message is a very unusual one, as it includes [[{{Squick}} a living worm]].

* MyOwnPrivateIDo: The two [[spoiler: get married by a justice of the peace and then take off for a bondage-filled honeymoon weekend.]]
* NoSparks: The reason Lee left Peter. Essentially, she feels no romantic spark with him whatsoever, as opposed to the hot D/s relationship she has going with Edward.

* OfficeRomance: [[SleepingWithTheBoss Spanking With The Boss]].

* PottyFailure: Lee experiences one when Edward orders her to sit in his chair without moving her hands or feet until he returns, to prove her loyalty/submission. An order which she actually follows for days on end (Maybe that's also one of the reasons why the first thing Edward does after returning is bathing her).

* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: Lee and Grey are, by any reasonable measure, pretty terrible to Peter, whose biggest sin in the entire film is that he's not particularly assertive. A lot of the problems Lee has with him come down to her not being able or willing to communicate with him about her feelings towards him (or lack thereof).
* RaceForYourLove: Lee, near the end.

* RunawayFiance: Having finally decided that Edward is what she really wants, she runs off from her wedding with Peter, while wearing her wedding dress.

* SafeWord: Lee uses it after Edward fires her.

* SexEqualsLove: BDSM Equals Love: The film doesn't really show Lee and Grey share anything other than their fetishes... unless you count the mutual inability to open up emotionally, a very deep shyness that they handle in different ways. A longing to really understand each other, without really daring to let it go anywhere.

* SexySecretary: Part of the basic premise of the movie is that Lee is one.

* SoundtrackDissonance: Purposeful, according to WordOfGod. To cite just one example, an alternative-rock rendition of "I Will Survive" plays when [[spoiler:Peter and Lee have sex]].
* TheStoic: Edward, although really it's just a mask concealing his emotions.
* {{Sugar and Ice Personality}}: Edward's true nature.

* {{Symbolism}}: Orchids, the worm, the cockroach, a dancing ballerina...
* SubordinateExcuse: It's in the title. Verges on a type of HappinessInSlavery by the end.
* TerribleIntervieweesMontage: When Lee tries dating via personal ads, LookingForLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces.

* TruthInTelevision: See ExtremeDoormat above. Anecdotally, there is nothing ironic about it at all. Many people who have submissive desires find themselves empowered when they are able to experience those desires with a caring partner. Further, Lee acting as the strong emotional center and her strength being what allows the dominant to embrace his role in their relationship is also quite common. It's called power exchange for a reason.
** It's also much of a more common relationship type than that shown in, for instance, ''Film/FiftyShadesOfGrey'', and this movie is [[ApprovalOfGod far more well-liked by the BDSM community because of it.]]

* VirginInAWhiteDress: Strongly subverted, as we know that when Lee puts on her wedding dress, she's far from innocent (nonetheless, after she does it, there is indeed [[spoiler:a wedding]]).

* BunnyEarsLawyer: Complete with the TropeNamer in the role! Grey has an overly elaborate garden in his office, engages in kinky sex games with his secretary during work hours, [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers and insists on things being typed rather than using computers]], but by all accounts he's an excellent lawyer.

* HowWeGotHere: The opening scene finds Lee in what's eventually revealed to be Mr. Grey's office, going about her regular routine--stapling some papers together, retrieving something from the printer, making coffee. The only odd thing about it is that she is wearing restraining device, a long bar with a collar around her neck and cuffs for both of her wrists, which forces both her arms to extend out sideways from her shoulders. After the scene ends a "six months earlier" card takes us to the beginning of the story.