At the end of 2022, the film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande was released and it is available to stream on Draken Film. Several Swedish critics have praised the film, and it has also attracted attention because of the famous actors Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack playing the lead roles. Now we can read Robert Schenck’s review, where he argues that the 96-minute film is a form of advertisement for the normalization and decriminalization of prostitution.
Film Review
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, 2022, United Kingdom
Director: Sophie Hyde, Writer: Katy Brand
A Long Advertisement for the Normalization of Prostitution
Ultimately, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is a long advertisement for the normalization and decriminalization of prostitution. The film itself is a chamber piece of good British quality. It’s like sitting in a cinema watching live theatre from the West End: star actors, discreet music, no big Hollywood effects, a balanced dialogue, and a clear (though in this case, very predictable) dramaturgy.
The major problem with the film is its content. Nancy (Emma Thompson), a widow in her 60s, wants to experience sexual pleasure and physical intimacy for the first time in her life, after a long marriage and family life. To this end, she books Leo (Daryl McCormack) to a hotel room where the majority of the film takes place. She becomes one of his many clients and, by the end of the film, declares the results of her sex purchases: “It’s a very powerful thing, sexual fulfilment. It makes you feel, well, it made me feel invincible…. I have felt more alive and more powerful in this last month than I can ever remember…. Actually, you’re right, Leo, this should be a public service.”
Distorted and Idealized Portrayal of Prostitution
Prostitution is portrayed in a distorted and idealized manner. The “sex worker” (as he is consistently referred to) enters his role in a calm and routine manner, both physically and psychologically, while Nancy undergoes her transformation from nervous and inexperienced to (supposedly) liberated. It doesn’t help that the viewer is given an overly obvious “explanation” for why Leo has entered prostitution (his mother rejected him as a teenager after discovering him at a nude party with his friends). Leo is clearly portrayed as a well-functioning, attractive young man who simply “does his job,” which he claims to enjoy. The inevitable consequences and traumas of prostitution for Leo are completely omitted from the film, as is the question of the client’s (Nancy’s) guilt in the context. The gender roles being reversed compared to the usual does not change the power dynamics at play.
A Dialogue on the Benefits of Decriminalizing Prostitution
Not only does the film present a totally skewed picture of prostitution, but in the middle of the movie, there is a five-minute dialogue between the characters about the benefits of decriminalizing prostitution. Leo states calmly:
“… Just think how civilized it could be. If it was just available to all and there’s no shame attached, no judgment. You want sex and you’re frustrated you can’t get it, for whatever reason, you’re shy, you’re unwell, you’re grieving, you’re physically struggling, so you just hire someone, like me. It’s all regulated and safe, for you, for me, better for everyone. And I help you, or I pleasure you ….”
Uncritical and Laudatory Reviews
The film has been praised by Swedish critics and the streaming service Draken Film. I have not been able to find a single review that refers to the Swedish sex purchase law and its purpose, or that acknowledges that what Nancy does to satisfy her own needs would be illegal in Sweden and comes with significant risks for the vulnerable party. Perhaps the critics have been dazzled by excellent acting or fascinated by the cinematic qualities achieved with minimal resources, but where is the awareness of the sex purchase law and prostitution as a phenomenon, regardless of the gender roles? Here are a few excerpts:
“A liberatingly honest film about sex.”
Jan-Olov Andersson in Aftonbladet, June 2023.
“Emma Thompson’s prim, proper, and retired teacher can’t take it anymore. When she becomes a widow, things break down completely. To cope with her unhappy existence, she books a young sex worker (Daryl McCormack) to a luxury hotel room to experience her first orgasm. This sets the stage for a passionate comedy about an unusual human encounter where power dynamics shift, and themes like family norms, sex, and societal expectations are explored in a lively way.”
Nicholas Wennö, Dagens Nyheter, in “Best streaming tips of Christmas week,” December 2022.
“The chemistry between Emma Thompson and rising star Daryl McCormack is nothing short of striking, but equally convincing is Katy Brand’s masterfully bold script, which in a refreshingly candid way never falls prey to the controversial elements of the film’s themes. Instead of judging or condemning, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande emphasizes that there is no upper age limit for sexual awakening.”
Simon Andersson, drakenfilm.se, February 2024.
John Crace, in a relatively lukewarm review in The Guardian, describes the film as “admirably subversive and enjoyably whimsical fare.”
Too Serious to Joke About – Effective Propaganda for the Decriminalization of Prostitution
Several people describe Good Luck to You, Leo Grande as a comedy. But the subject is far too serious to joke about, and the artistic and humorous ambitions are overshadowed by the film’s agenda. Those who created the film have made effective propaganda for the decriminalization of prostitution. Moreover, it fuels the skepticism some viewers have about the Swedish sex purchase law.
How many viewers will walk away from the film thinking that prostitution is actually quite OK? Far too many, I fear.
Robert Schenck
