Colin Snow
In the 2011 erotic psychological horror film *Sleeping Beauty*, Lucy is a university student who takes on a mysterious part-time job where she is required to sleep alongside paying customers and fulfil their erotic desires. Throughout the film, Lucy is seen with three clients, each with their own approach to her and their own reasons for engaging in these disturbing proceedings. The film ends with Lucy overdosing and being revived by her friend Clara, only to scream upon seeing a dead man in bed next to her.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Lucy |
| Occupation | University student |
| Other jobs | Works in an office, at a restaurant, and volunteers as a test subject at a university medical research lab |
| Reason for taking the job | To pay tuition and rent |
| Nature of the job | Required to sleep alongside paying customers and be submissive to their erotic desires |
| Nature of sleep | Physical unconsciousness |
| Dress | Nude |
| Payment | High |
| Vulnerability | Very vulnerable |
| Reaction to the job | Lucy is horrified when a man swats her behind, but no one reprimands him |
| Tea | Drinks a soporific tea that makes her sleep deeply |
| Reaction to the tea | Lucy cries when she wakes up and sees the old man lying next to her |
| Reason for crying | Realises her suicide attempt has failed |
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What You'll Learn
Lucy's motivation for the job
Lucy is a university student who works multiple jobs to pay her tuition and rent. She volunteers as a test subject at a university medical research lab, works at a coffee shop, and makes photocopies at an office. She also attends a high-class bar, offering herself as a sex partner.
Lucy's motivation for taking on the mysterious and dangerous job as a "Sleeping Beauty" is likely a combination of financial reasons and her restless, nihilistic personality. She is described as a "restless college student" who is "trying to make ends meet" by doing odd jobs. She is also said to have a "prince complex" and a desire to be willfully putting herself in danger.
The job as a "Sleeping Beauty" offers her a high income, which could have been a significant factor in her decision to take on the job. In addition to her financial situation, Lucy's personality and outlook on life may have also played a role in her motivation. She is described as having a "prince complex," which could indicate a desire for attention or validation from older men. She is also said to be "willfully putting herself in danger," suggesting that she has a nihilistic or self-destructive streak.
Furthermore, Lucy's personal life seems to be in disarray, with her landlord disliking her and her facing pressure from her sister's boyfriend about rent. She also appears to be unhappy and unfulfilled in her other jobs, as indicated by her willingness to take on a mysterious and potentially dangerous part-time job.
All of these factors likely contribute to Lucy's motivation for taking on the job as a "Sleeping Beauty," where she is required to sleep alongside paying customers and submit to their erotic desires while being voluntarily unconscious.
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The clients' motivations for visiting Lucy
In the 2011 film *Sleeping Beauty*, Lucy is a university student who takes up a part-time job with a mysterious group that caters to rich clients who like the company of nude sleeping young women. The motivations of the clients who visit Lucy are varied and complex.
One of Lucy's clients is a widower. It can be speculated that he is drawn to Lucy because she reminds him of his late wife, whom he always saw as beautiful and fragile—similar to how Lucy appears when she is sleeping. This client's motivation may be rooted in his grief and desire to reconnect with his lost loved one.
Another client may be motivated by a sense of power and control. By engaging with Lucy while she is unconscious, he can exert dominance without the risk of resistance or confrontation. This could be a way for him to compensate for feelings of inadequacy or a loss of masculinity in his daily life.
A third client exhibits what has been described as a prince complex. He picks up the naked Lucy and carries her in his arms, only to drop her due to a lack of strength. This client may be motivated by a desire to fulfill a fantasy of being a heroic prince, rescuing and protecting a damsel in distress. However, the reality of his physical limitations leads to humiliation and disenchantment.
The clients' motivations are not explicitly stated in the film, but they range from potential emotional attachment to power dynamics and fantasy fulfillment. The viewers are left to interpret and speculate on the underlying reasons for their participation in this disturbing arrangement.
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Lucy's reaction to the dead man
In the 2011 Australian erotic psychological horror film *Sleeping Beauty*, Lucy is a university student who takes up a part-time job with a mysterious group that caters to rich clients who like the company of nude sleeping young women.
The dead man is one of Lucy's clients, a widower who, it is speculated, saw her as beautiful and fragile, even in sleep. He is the third and final client that Lucy has. He has a "prince complex" and picks up her naked body, carrying her in his arms, only to drop her because he is not strong enough. This is the last we see of him before he returns to die next to Lucy.
The film's writer and director, Julia Leigh, has said that the horror in *Sleeping Beauty* comes from the vulnerability of its protagonist, Lucy. By refusing to cut or move the camera during scenes of men manhandling Lucy, Leigh forces viewers to confront the reality of what they are seeing. This includes the unbearable scene of Lucy's reaction to the dead man.
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Lucy's relationship with Birdmann
In the 2011 film Sleeping Beauty, Lucy, played by Emily Browning, is a university student who works multiple jobs to pay her tuition and rent. One of her jobs is visiting an aloof man, Birdmann (Ewen Leslie), who is attracted to her. Although Lucy does not reciprocate his feelings, she appears happier with him than at any other time.
The depth of their connection is evident in how Lucy turns to Birdmann during her vulnerable moments. She seeks comfort and support from him, indicating a level of trust and intimacy in their relationship. Birdmann, despite his own struggles, offers her a sense of solace and understanding. Their bond transcends a typical romantic relationship, as Lucy finds solace in his presence even without reciprocating his romantic feelings.
After Birdmann's death, Lucy's emotional state is further impacted. She attends his funeral and makes a bland proposal to a former acquaintance, who refuses, citing his new relationship and perceived character flaws in Lucy. This rejection adds to Lucy's turmoil, and she continues to navigate her challenging circumstances.
The relationship between Lucy and Birdmann is a pivotal aspect of the film, showcasing the complexities of human connections and the search for comfort and understanding in the face of adversity. Their dynamic highlights the multifaceted nature of relationships, where affection, support, and vulnerability intersect in unique ways.
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The medical experiment
In the 2011 film Sleeping Beauty, Lucy is a university student who works multiple jobs to pay her tuition and rent. One of these jobs is as a research subject at a science laboratory. In the film, Lucy undergoes a medical experiment in which she swallows a tiny camera attached to a long cable, gagging as a medical student feeds the cable down her throat. Once the camera is in place, she sits with her head tipped back, holding the cord and trying not to gag.
This scene is presented in one long, unbroken take, forcing the viewer to confront the reality of what is happening. The camera remains still during this and other nearly unbearable scenes of men manhandling Lucy, highlighting the horror of her vulnerability.
The film is based on the novels The House of the Sleeping Beauties by Yasunari Kawabata and Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel García Márquez, as well as writer-director Julia Leigh's own recurring nightmare of being filmed while asleep.
In the context of the film's narrative, Lucy's participation in the medical experiment can be seen as a manifestation of her self-destructive tendencies and willingness to put herself in dangerous situations. This is further emphasised by her work as a "Sleeping Beauty," where she allows men to touch her naked body while she is drugged and unconscious.
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Frequently asked questions
Lucy is a university student who works several jobs to pay her tuition and rent. She works in an office during the day and at a restaurant in the evenings. She also volunteers as a research subject at a science laboratory and takes up a part-time job with a mysterious group that caters to rich men and women who like the company of nude sleeping young women.
Lucy is required to sleep alongside paying customers and be absolutely submissive to their erotic desires. She voluntarily enters physical unconsciousness and is paid to allow men to touch her while she is drugged and unconscious.
At the end of the film, Lucy overdoses and is revived by Clara using mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. She screams when she sees the dead man in bed next to her. The film ends with a shot of the dead old man and the sleeping girl lying peacefully together in bed.
