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Poster for The Sleeping Dictionary
U
Unrated

The Sleeping Dictionary

2003 · 109 min

Drama, Romance

In the 1930s, British officer John Truscott journeys to a remote village in colonial Malaysia to educate and Westernize the local Iban population. There, he's introduced to the lovely Selima. In keeping with tradition, Selima is assigned to sleep with Truscott and teach him the native language and customs. But when they fall in love, both colonists and natives object to their plans to marry.

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Appeals to viewers who enjoy lush period romances centered on cross-cultural connection, social barriers, and the emotional costs of colonial hierarchy.

Tone
romantic, bittersweet, contemplative
Payoff
swoon, heartbreak
Pacing
steady
Intensity
moderate
Structure
linear
Themes
forbidden love, cultural identity, colonialism, tradition versus modernity
Setting
1930s colonial era, remote rainforest village

Content dimensions

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