Premiering at the opening night of the Sundance Film Festival, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is a refreshing exploration of two strangers as they commence a transactional relationship.
★★★★★
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande evokes feelings of the familiar with the comedic genius Emma Thompson at the helm, and strikes out with her comparatively lesser known co-star Daryl McCormack. A comedic journey set in just one room, Leo Grande remains defiant in the face of expectations and dives into the supposedly taboo. GLYTLG is a juxtaposition for audiences—yet those contrasts are exactly what makes it so interesting. Nakedness, explicit sex, and meaningful conversations make for an incredibly surprising character-based film, but ultimately it works. Sophie Hyde’s film follows Nancy Stokes (Thompson) who lies in wait in a hotel room for Leo Grande (McCormack), a sex worker she has hired. She employs Leo to expand upon her limited world of sex. After her monotonous marriage which steered towards male pleasure, as well as the constraints of motherhood, Nancy is ready to partake in the world she has only heard about from afar—female pleasure. Following three meetings shown in real-time, you get to know Nancy and Leo in all their funniness and faults; experiencing the first bits of awkwardness, the small talk, and the perfect comedic one-liners that Nancy delivers. Yet splitting the film up and setting it within one room does not restrict its power. Neither the pacing nor setting feels lacklustre.
Leo Grande is simultaneously funny, thoughtful, and steeped in a deep appreciation for connection. Focusing on a taboo subject, it subverts the norm of representing sex work in cinema. Unlike London to Brighton, which follows the turbulence and dangers of being forced into sex work, Leo Grande brushes against the boundaries of sex work in a refreshing way while highlighting that it can be a chosen occupation. Despite a tendency to showcase the dangers and darker side in British cinema, and even a necessity to show a less than idyllic version, Leo Grande represents another reality—where neither shame nor stereotype is relevant to Leo and Nancy’s stories.
OnlyFans has boomed in popularity during the pandemic lockdowns. In showcasing a male sex worker, and the boundaries and connections that with come with the job, Leo Grande is rooted in reality. And by employing such a well-known actress as Thompson, one who exudes those funny, sarky moments in every performance, it loosens the sense of scandal that sometimes surrounds sex work or talking about it. A far-cry from her role as Nanny McPhee, Leo Grande is much more explicit, yet no less consumed by similar levels of moral messaging and laughter.
With such simple set pieces and a character-driven story, there is no surprise that costume plays a part in defining the character. Nancy’s dress sense recalls a more traditional style (think pencil skirt, patterned blouse, and low court shoes), and the evolution of this as Nancy meets Leo speaks to her character journey. Leo remains a juxtaposition. With a clash of trendy and vintage (beanie, mid-waist formal trousers, a collarless shirt), he is a hybrid. His consistent style he adorns reflects his subversion of stereotypes at every corner. Their presentation speaks volumes about the characters, their stories, and the wider world which seems so far away outside the hotel window.
Nancy says what she wants, seemingly against her will at times, and no matter how disagreeable the words, they remain endearing. Admirably, she seeks pleasure for herself, and defies expectations of an older woman and voices her own burdens (of motherhood and marriage). And with a multi-layered performance from Daryl McCormack as a young escort, whose emotional vulnerability grounds him in humanity, the two stars are captivating. With moments of levity, comedy, and even a dance sequence, you feel neither too affected by this quick succession of events nor concerned with anything but their own stories as they tell them.
It is hard to miss the female presence in the film. Directed by Hyde, written by Katy Brand, and with Thompson as the leading star, the film is entrenched in advocating for your own pleasure and experience. Whilst Leo Grande reflects upon his male journey within a predominantly female space (the realm of sex work) and navigates this client relationship, Nancy is going through her own journey of self-discovery, one which is tied with what she expects of herself and subverting it. During this intimate affair, you feel deeply connected to these two humans ultimately figuring their heads out.
The Verdict
A series of well-paced interactions between two strangers-turned-confidants, this comedic-drama hybrid is simply refreshing. Focusing on the condemned trade of sex work and its services being employed by an older woman, gender and age expectations for two consensual partners are turned on their head. Although there are some parts where the characters prove far from likeable, their honesty is admirable, and ultimately the journey of self-discovery leaves you fulfilled and eager to see more films of the like. In the era of OnlyFans and of building a progressive mindset about sex work, Leo Grande manages to be present and emotional, with those laugh out loud moments you crave in British cinema.
Words by Annabel Smith
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