H. T. Davey Reviews

Review by H. T. Davey

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)

★★★

Director: Sophie Hyde

Good Luck to you, Leo Grande is a sex-comedy film about an older women who hires a young male sex worker. The storyline follows two polar opposite characters infultrating a hotel room for the majority of a 2 hour film, where the two characters talk and explore each other intimately. This film explores sexual intimacy, consent, different generational gaps and how shame can impact on relationships for young and old. Emma Thompson plays Nancy a recently retired teacher, and stars Daryl Mccormick who plays Leo, the young male sex worker. The film explores Nancy’s sexual desires which are met with Leo’s experience and understanding to allow Nancy to explore her desires in a small yet glamourous hotel room.

This film starts off gently, introducing us delicately to each character as they engage in simple conversation. As the film continues, anxiety and lust begin to unfold. We hear Nancy discuss her late husband’s erotic tendencies and her own desires which were never quite met. As the relationship develops and more meetings occur, the emerging heaviness of their situation becomes apparent when Nancy becomes interested in Leo’s personal life. Leo feels uncomfortable and as their journey is struck by intense feelings, we begin to see Nancy reflect upon her actions and begins to become more confident and comfortable in her own skin, the skin she has carried her whole life.

The film explores consent in a very delicate way. Leo and Nancy request permission whenever they explore each other, keeping a clear line of communication open. This is a refreshing act to see in a film which is also directed by Sophie Hyde and written by Katy Brand. The ending of this film is its best part, as the audience witness Nancy transform from a rigit and stern women, developing into a more confident, peaceful and accepting person of herself and others. This is done by the tender and well written script and subtle acting of Thompson.

Good Luck to you, Leo Grande explores sexual intimacy between two vastly different characters and as they each explore their journey in a hotel room in London. This film may not be for everyone with it’s risky plot points and scenes. However, its gentle nature and inviting characters are its strength.