Sekretarka / Secretary (2002)

Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) emerges from the confines of a psychiatric institution, determined to reintegrate into society. A mere day with her dysfunctional kin sparks a resurgence of self-destructive tendencies, compelling her to strive for a semblance of normality. Enrolling in a typing course, she secures a mundane position in a legal office, where her employer, the eccentric lawyer Edward Grey (James Spader), blurs the boundaries between professional and personal connections, traversing not only the limits set by labor and ethical codes but also societal conventions surrounding love.

Lee, haunted by her recent stint in a psychiatric facility, harbors reservations as she submits her application for the position of secretary in Edward Grey’s legal establishment. Recently liberated from the confines of a mental institution, she grapples with the scars left by a dysfunctional family, a crucible that rapidly compels a return to self-destructive habits. Additionally, Lee lacks any previous vocational experience, rendering her an atypical candidate. Nevertheless, the idiosyncratic attorney elects to bring her on board. Initially, her responsibilities seem routine, encompassing typewriting and coffee preparation, but with the passage of time, the dynamic between Lee and Mr. Grey takes an unexpected turn, delving into territories that would leave any human resources director bewildered. When Lee’s family and her casual boyfriend, Peter (Jeremy Davies), catch wind of the unconventional office romance, scandal ensues. While her family endeavors to reinstate Lee into a semblance of „normal” life, she, confident in her newfound emotions, rebuffs their attempts, having unraveled the true essence of love.

Lee, depicted by Maggie Gyllenhaal, is a young woman marked by her tumultuous past. Recently released from a psychiatric institution, she confronts the challenges of an emotionally unstable existence, resolving to lead a conventional life and secure employment. Against all odds, she lands a job as a secretary in a law office. However, as time elapses, her employer demands more than mere secretarial duties, transforming their relationship into an unconventional emotional entanglement.