Sleeping Dictionary

This is a relatively unknown film featuring Jessica Alba, you know the girl from the Dark Angel Series. It's a steamy love story set in the jungles of Sarawak during the 1930s.


The story is that during this period most English gentlemen went off somewhere in the English Empire to serve as an colonial/administrator to "finish their education." John, Hugh Dancy, goes to Sarawak, which is a kind of nowhere–why come here–assignment. He goes there because his father had dreams of educating the natives there, but was sent to war before his could accomplish his dreams. His idealistic sons stumbles right into his footsteps. When John gets there, the officer in charge–Henry, who has been there a while, assigns to him a "Sleeping Dictionary." A sleeping dictionary is a native woman who can speak both English and the native dialect. She sleeps with her assign man as well as teaches him the language. For as they say, the best place to learn a new language is in the bedroom. John's Sleeping Dictionary is an especially beautiful native woman played by Jessica Alba. Of course they fall in love, but the relationship if forbidden on both sides and they have no where to turn. Henry's wife is trying to blackmail John into marrying her daughter, and both the English and the natives are against the mixed couple. John's ideology comes crashing right into reality. The lovers have no where to turn. . . the ending has a couple of twists in the end.

This is an especially pretty movie visually. Its all very exotic. The shots of the jungle are beautiful. Whomever was behind that camera had a eye for it. There is a couple of especially wonderful shots of birds in flight and a gorgeous waterfall. The costumes of the natives (when dressed for celebration) were lovely and very nicely done. Jessica Alba looked great. There is nothing revolutionary about the effects, just a beautiful backdrop, a good story (nice script) and good acting.

I thought Jessica Alba did a wonderful job acting. She plays a willful native girl that is stuck between two worlds (her father was an Englishman). Hugh Dancy, just has the look of the idealistic guy, who tries to do everything morally right and finds himself trapped between duty and morality and love. We all know one of these, and you always hate to see them disillusioned. Bob Hoskins plays Henry. He does a good job at playing the mentor/father figure who has been the same places that John is going.

This is just a lovely overlooked film that is a great romance story. Its about what one will do for love and its also about the place were duty and what is morally right meet and clash. Its great for a Sunday afternoon watch. Just relax and watch a good little film. If you like a good romance story then you will enjoy it. So give Sleeping Dictionary a chance, it may surprise you.

There is really no extras on the DVD. There is a trailer for this film and trailers for upcoming films from Newline Cinema.