"Sanctuary," a lengthy psychological drama revolving around role-play and power dynamics between a dominatrix and her client. Yet, it occasionally suffers from redundant dialogue. However, the energetic performances from the cast keep the conversations engaging. This film, includes touches of dark comedy. It explores the perennial issue concerning the potential evolution of a purely transactional relationship between sex workers and their clients. The film debuted at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.
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Micah Bloomberg directs and writes "Sanctuary," a film that could easily transition to a stage play due to its primarily single-location setting: a hotel suite. The narrative unfolds predominantly through an extended conversation between Rebecca, a dominatrix (Margaret Qualley), and her client Hal Porterfield (Christopher Abbott).
The story, set in Denver but filmed in New York, slowly unveils that Rebecca and Hal are in a dominatrix-client relationship, a fact hidden for the first 15 minutes. The opening scene introduces Rebecca arriving at the hotel suite of Hal, an heir to the Porterfield Hotels and Resorts.
Rebecca, pretending to be a representative of Lichter-Haynes law firm, is supposedly interviewing Hal for a background check that's part of a CEO candidate evaluation process. Hal appears slightly anxious yet ready for the questions.
Rebecca begins with normal background check queries but gradually steers into more personal territories, which leads to the revelation of their actual relationship. Rebecca isn't a law firm employee conducting an affidavit but a dominatrix hired by Hal for sexual gratification.
The plot twist reveals that Hal, the real hotel heir, scripted the entire scenario. Rebecca, a dominatrix maintaining strict boundaries with her clients, has been role-playing with Hal for quite some time. Hal is not a CEO candidate but already holds the position.
After this disclosure, viewers will decide whether to continue watching or not. The remainder of the movie consists of a tug of war between Rebecca and Hal, who wants to end their relationship, while Rebecca strives to stay as long as possible.
The termination of their relationship is not driven by Hal's boredom but by something about Rebecca that unsettles him. Seasoned viewers might predict the real reason before the film's conclusion.
The movie presents an uncomfortable yet engaging portrayal of two control-obsessed individuals vying for the upper hand in their relationship. Traditional and non-traditional gender roles influence this power dynamic. Hal grapples with his father's legacy while Rebecca eventually reveals her vulnerabilities.
The performances by Abbott and Qualley are critical to the success of the film due to its setting. Abbott's more believable performance contrasts with Qualley's occasional overacting. The verbal sparring between the two feels like a fencing match, leaving viewers potentially weary but never disinterested.
