Lee Holloway, a young woman with a history of severe emotional problems, is released from a psychiatric institution. She finds work as a secretary to the attorney E. Edward Grey, where their employer-employee relationship turns into a sexual, sadomasochistic one.

Reclaiming kink for the United States of America, indie It-girl Maggie Gyllenhaal squared off against James Spader (Sex, Lies, and Videotape) in this brilliantly provocative, now cult romance about a strange sexual understanding. The film won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance—“for its originality”.