Watch Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty is a 2011 independent drama film directed and written by Julia Leigh, starring Emily Browning in the lead role. The film wasn't received too well by the critics and the audience was polarizing with different opinions. The film starts with a young college girl, Lucy, struggling to manage her finances and earns money by working multiple jobs. She's not happy with her life and wants to explore something new. One day, she learns about a job opportunity from her friend, Birdmann, to work at an exclusive gentleman's club as a waitress. But this is not an ordinary club; it's an underground organization where rich and powerful men pay to spend a night with young beautiful women whom they can watch sleep.

Lucy, initially reluctant, is intrigued by the idea of earning a large sum of money just for sleeping. However, soon she realizes that she's being used as a sexual object by these men who only want to gratify their darkest fantasies. The movie depicts the bleak and claustrophobic world of prostitution, where women trade their dignity for money and power.

The main protagonist, Lucy, is a complex character who is admired by some and loathed by others. She's beautiful, intelligent and independent, but at the same time, she's vulnerable, naive and confused. She's rebelling against society's expectations and desires to explore her sexuality in a non-judgmental environment. But the price she pays for this freedom is too high, and she ends up losing control over her life.

The other characters in the movie are also intriguing, especially the Madame played by Rachael Blake. She's the boss of the club and has a no-nonsense attitude. She's not sympathetic towards the girls, and her only concern is to keep the business running smoothly. The male clients are also interesting, and each one has a different personality and motive for being there.

The cinematography of the movie is stunning, with beautiful and haunting visuals that perfectly capture the mood of the story. The movie's pace is slow, which may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it gives enough time to absorb the emotions and sentiments of the characters.

The movie's theme is bold and controversial, and the director doesn't glamourize prostitution in any way. Instead, she portrays it as a dark and brutal reality of life, where girls have limited choices and are forced to make difficult decisions. The movie raises important questions about sexuality, morality, and the influence of power and money in our lives.

In conclusion, Sleeping Beauty is not a typical movie, and it may not appeal to everyone. The movie is a slow burn that requires patience and an open mind to appreciate its beauty. The movie's theme is dark and disturbing, and it exposes the ugly side of prostitution, which is not a topic often explored in mainstream movies. The movie's strengths lie in its visual aesthetics and in the strong performances of the lead actors. The movie will be enjoyed by those who appreciate unconventional cinema that challenges our perceptions of life and society.

Sleeping Beauty is a 2011 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3 and a MetaScore of 57.