What options are there in society for bereaved older women facing apparent sexual invisibility? The new British comedy Good Luck to You, Leo Grande suggests hiring an escort might be the way forward.
Structured in four acts, the film is presented as a heart-warming exploration of vulnerability, intimacy and desirability in which Nancy, a recently widowed former teacher, embarks on a journey to access sexual pleasure with the help of a Black-Irish male escort, Leo Grande.
Throughout the film, the viewer follows Leo (Daryl McCormack) and Nancy (Emma Thompson) as he slowly breaks through her insecurities and sexual shame. Nancy reveals to Leo that she has never experienced any kind of sex other than vaginal penetration, and her late husband was an inattentive and perfunctory lover. Although she has long wanted to book an escort, Nancy is conflicted about her role as a client. She feels there is a moral dimension to purchasing sex, and that the act itself is exploitative. Her ambivalent position on the industry likely mirrors that of many in the audience. It is Leo who must reassure her (and the viewer) that he really wants to be there. Nancy puts intense pressure on Leo to reveal details of his personal life; when he refuses, she stalks him and discovers his private identity. The final scene, after their conflict and reconciliatory meeting, has Nancy disrobing in front of the mirror, admiring her naked body, as Leo walks away down the street, a satisfied smile on his face.
