Following Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) through the streets that could be any historic UK city, (Norwich is where the film is shot) there is a calmness in the air. There is a lot of mystery, this could be any young confident male sipping on coffee and admiring his outfit as he passes shop windows. However Leo Grande is not the average sharply dressed man, he is a sex worker.
When Nancy (Emma Thompson), decides she wants to explore a new world of sexual desire, she hires Leo Grande to help with this endeavour. From the minute we meet Nancy, she is portrayed as a very British middle aged woman, perhaps who is scared to even say the word “sex”.
The setting of the hotel room is clean, minimalist, and adds a deep sense of realism to the story. A story, which may seem quite improbable on paper. The room is basic, yet pleasant, and could be any hotel in any city, however this room soon becomes the stage for the play that is about to unfold. The film feels like a theatre performance on screen. There is very little fancy camera work, thus the audience is not distracted from the real heart of the film; the connection between two unlikely people.
The acting is believable and brave, the subtle looks and moments when each character is alone, are honest and truly make you believe “Nancy” and “Leo” are just two individuals attempting to go through life’s ups and downs and avoid hurting. The plot follows the multiple meetings between the pair, each meeting has the initial focus of sexual exploration, but soon it becomes apparent that these two people are not exactly who they seem to be. Concealed topics of family dynamics, shame, the male gaze, the legalisation of the sex trade and the portrayal of men and women within a patriarchal society are all hinted at. It is subtle, but gives an element of thought-provoking narrative within what is overall a humorous comedy. These hidden elements make both characters controversial in some of their opinions, maybe even mildly offensive, but this actually makes them more likeable, as they are real, they have faults, they are also just products of the society we live in, and they need to be taught to learn new values.
‘Good Luck to you, Leo Grande’, is a film that shows that these characters can explore those values that seem foreign to them, and come out of this with a better understanding of people and life. While in the cinema watching the film many of the middle-aged women in the cinema were laughing out loud, and I am sure everyone else had moments that made them smile. A comedy where a hotel bed is the stage, yet ultimately about people who have much to learn about the world outside.
6.5/10
Image: https://www.thenational.wales/news/20079448.emma-thompson-seeks-sexual-adventure-new-film-good-luck-leo-grande/
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