This is one of those “run – don’t walk” moments, People – “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande” is a must-see. You don’t have to run too far, however – hell, you don’t even have to put on a bra – “GLtYLG” is streaming on Hulu.
Performances by the always-outstanding Emma Thompson and terrific newcomer Daryl McCormack are stratospheric. Writing and direction are spot-on, and it’s a crime that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences isn’t currently recognizing films that aren’t released in theatres. Man, are they missing an opportunity to nominate an incredible piece of work.
If you’re familiar with the premise – widowed, chronically uptight woman hires a very hot and much younger escort to engage in sexual exploits she’s never before encountered – you’d be right to expect a script full of sexual themes. But the film is so much more than that. By the end, all kinds of topics have been explored: marriage, ageism, motherhood, childhood, self-esteem, boundaries (sexual and otherwise), sex work, other kinds of work, body image, loss, grief, and joy. Most audience members will have certain expectations about these characters that will likely be blown out of the water. It’s a thought-provoking, instructive and heartfelt artistic experience.
For me, two topics stood out the most in terms of subject matter:
1 – the messages we receive during childhood profoundly affect our sexuality. I nerd out on the neurobiology of this and could break it down for you but that’s another blog for another day. Instead, here’s the takeaway (and one that the film exquisitely illustrates): we can challenge those messages, and we can literally rewire our brains to reflect who we are as sexual beings. It’s harder to do the older we get, but it can be done with the right guidance and self-focus. Science and sexuality are pretty good friends, as it turns out!
2 – women of any age deserve to be sexual, to own their sexuality and to have satisfying sex! No need to elaborate – it’s just literally the way it is.
I can’t recommend the film more highly and for more, check out this great interview with Emma Thompson in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/15/movies/emma-thompson-good-luck-to-you-leo-grande.html
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can bring more sexual satisfaction into your own life, give Maze a call!
Jennifer Dembo, LMSW
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