The Sleeping Dictionary

The Sleeping Dictionary

He's an unexpected education.

R 2003 · 109 min · ★ 6.6 · Drama, Romance

In the 1930s, British officer John Truscott journeys to a remote village in colonial Malaysia to educate and Westernize the local Iban population. There, he's introduced to the lovely Selima. In keeping with tradition, Selima is assigned to sleep with Truscott and teach him the native language and customs. But when they fall in love, both colonists and natives object to their plans to marry.

Directed by Guy Jenkin · Written by Guy Jenkin

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Rent or Buy

Amazon VideoApple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeFandango At Home

Cast

Make it a double feature

3h 14m together

Both from Guy Jenkin.

More from Guy JenkinSee all →

Scotch & WryScotch & Wry · 1986
Scotch & Wry
9.01986
MovieComedy
Video Compilation of the Scottish TV Comedy Sketch Show. Stand out characters include Supercop, an idiot motorcycle policeman whose catchphrase was 'Alright Stirling, oot the car' and whose goggles would spring off his helmet; Dirty Dickie Dandruff; Gallowgate Gourmet, the unbelievably unhygienic TV chef; and McGlinchey, a colourful wide-boy.
A Very Open PrisonA Very Open Prison · 1995
A Very Open Prison
8.51995
MovieComedyTV Movie
The Home Secretary has his eye on the Prime Minister's job. But an experiment in the way the prisons are run leads to embarrassment - and escaped murderers! The fore runner of Crossing The Floor
The Uncertain KingdomThe Uncertain Kingdom · 2020
The Uncertain Kingdom
8.52020
Movie
A ground-breaking anthology of twenty short films by twenty filmmakers, which together offer an alternative snapshot of the UK in the year 2020.
Outnumbered Christmas SpecialOutnumbered Christmas Special · 2024
Outnumbered Christmas Special
8.02024
MovieComedy
In a moment of adversity, Sue and Pete gather everyone together and try to celebrate a traditional family Christmas.
Outnumbered - Christmas Special 2016Outnumbered - Christmas Special 2016 · 2016
Outnumbered - Christmas Special 2016
8.02016
MovieComedy
The Brockman family are on a special mission at Christmas time.
Life on MarsLife on Mars · 2006
Life on Mars
7.82006
SeriesCrimeDrama
A detective chief inspector from 2006 is investigating a serial killer when he is knocked over by a speeding car. Waking up, he finds himself mysteriously transported back in time to 1973. Initially struggling to come to terms with his situation, he has to come to terms with the old-fashioned technology and attitude of the day, while figuring out how he came to be trapped in the past.
OutnumberedOutnumbered · 2007
Outnumbered
7.72007
SeriesComedyFamily
Partly-improvised sitcom looking at the trials and tribulations of bringing up three young children - a regal five-year-old girl with a talent for interrogation, a seven-year-old boy who could fib for Britain and an 11-year-old who is gearing up for his scary first day at secondary school.
Screen TwoScreen Two · 1985
Screen Two
7.11985
SeriesDrama
Series of single made-for-television dramas.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-RabbitWallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit · 2005
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
7.12005
MovieAdventureAnimation
Cheese-loving eccentric Wallace and his cunning canine pal Gromit run a business ridding the town of garden pests. Using only humane methods, which turns their home into a halfway house for evicted vermin, the pair stumble upon a mystery involving a voracious vegetarian monster that threatens to ruin the annual veggie-growing contest.
Drop the Dead DonkeyDrop the Dead Donkey · 1990
Drop the Dead Donkey
7.01990
SeriesComedy
A sitcom set in the offices of "GlobeLink News" after its acquisition by media mogul Sir Roysten Merchant. Led by editor George Dent, the staff of GlobeLink battle to maintain the company as a serious news organization against Sir Roysten's right-hand man, Gus Hedges, who wants to make the show more sensationalist and suppress stories that might harm Roysten's business empire.
Crossing the FloorCrossing the Floor · 1996
Crossing the Floor
6.81996
MovieTV MovieComedy
Political satire closely mirroring real-life British politics of the time - a self-serving Conservative minister "crosses the floor" to join the opposition Labour Party, at a time when the Conservative Party has a majority in Parliament of just one seat. Sequel to A Very Open Prison.
What We Did on Our HolidayWhat We Did on Our Holiday · 2014
What We Did on Our Holiday
6.72014
MovieComedy
Doug and Abi and their three children travel to the Scottish Highlands for Doug's father Gordie's birthday party. It's soon clear that when it comes to keeping a secret under wraps from the rest of the family, their children are their biggest liability...
Rebecca's DaughtersRebecca's Daughters · 1992
Rebecca's Daughters
6.51992
MovieComedyDrama
Young aristocrat Anthony Raine returns home from India to find the farmers of Pembrokeshire protesting about the rates of a tollgate run by The Whitman Turnpike Trust, headed by the drunken Lord Sarn. So Raine dons a mask and, calling himself Rebecca, instructs his followers to dress as women as they attack the tolls, leading the common people to victory over their masters.
Comedy ConnectionsComedy Connections · 2003
Comedy Connections
6.52003
SeriesDocumentaryComedy
Comedy Connections was a BBC One documentary series produced by BBC Scotland that aired from 2003 to 2008. The show looked at the stories behind the production of some of Britain's comedy television programmes, showing how they tied in with the production of other comedy shows. The show featured interviews with some of the cast and crew of the subject programme, as well as footage from the series. Comedy Connections mostly documented BBC comedies and sitcoms, although two programmes have been from ITV and two from Channel 4. The first series consisted of six episodes, however the rest of the series consist of eight episodes each, the first two series were narrated by Julia Sawalha, however the rest of the series were narrated by Doon Mackichan.
The Kit Curran Radio ShowThe Kit Curran Radio Show · 1984
The Kit Curran Radio Show
6.31984
SeriesComedy
Disc jockey, flyboy, con-man, compulsive fibber... Kit Curran is all of these and worse! A perfect storm of self-obsession and general apathy, Kit reigns as the undisputed king of small-time Radio Newtown; but sparks start to fly when a new boss arrives and Kit finds that his days of egocentric scheming may soon be numbered!
Ballot MonkeysBallot Monkeys · 2015
Ballot Monkeys
6.22015
SeriesComedy
Political comedy set on the campaign buses of the main parties as they battle their way through the chaos of the election campaign.

More Like This

12 Mighty Orphans12 Mighty Orphans · 2021
12 Mighty Orphans
7.22021
MovieHistoryDrama
Haunted by his mysterious past, a devoted high school football coach leads a scrawny team of orphans to the state championship during the Great Depression and inspires a broken nation along the way.
Lady Chatterley's LoverLady Chatterley's Lover · 2022
Lady Chatterley's Lover
6.72022
MovieDramaRomance
After a crippling injury leaves her husband impotent, Lady Chatterly is torn between her love for her husband and her physical desires. With her husband's consent, she seeks out other means of fulfilling her needs.
The English PatientThe English Patient · 1996
The English Patient
7.11996
MovieDramaRomance
In the 1930s, Count Almásy is a Hungarian map maker employed by the Royal Geographical Society to chart the vast expanses of the Sahara Desert along with several other prominent explorers. As World War II unfolds, Almásy enters into a world of love, betrayal, and politics.
Schindler's ListSchindler's List · 1993
Schindler's List
8.61993
MovieDramaHistory
The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.
SissiSissi · 1955
Sissi
7.31955
MovieComedyDrama
The young Bavarian princess Elisabeth, who all call Sissi, goes with her mother and older sister Néné to Austria where Néné will be wed to an emperor named Franz Joseph, Yet unexpectedly Franz runs into Sissi while out fishing and they fall in love.
Wild at HeartWild at Heart · 1990
Wild at Heart
7.01990
MovieCrimeThriller
Young lovers Sailor and Lula hit the road to start a new life together away from the wrath of Lula’s deranged, disapproving mother, who has hired a team of hitmen to cut the lovers’ surreal honeymoon short.
The Green MileThe Green Mile · 1999
The Green Mile
8.51999
MovieFantasyDrama
A supernatural tale set on death row in a Southern prison, where gentle giant John Coffey possesses the mysterious power to heal people's ailments. When the cell block's head guard, Paul Edgecomb, recognizes Coffey's miraculous gift, he tries desperately to help stave off the condemned man's execution.
The Elephant ManThe Elephant Man · 1980
The Elephant Man
8.11980
MovieDramaHistory
A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man being mistreated by his "owner" as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of great intelligence and sensitivity. Based on the true story of Joseph Merrick (called John Merrick in the film), a severely deformed man in 19th century London.
The Cotton ClubThe Cotton Club · 1984
The Cotton Club
6.51984
MovieCrimeDrama
Harlem's legendary Cotton Club becomes a hotbed of passion and violence as the lives and loves of entertainers and gangsters collide.
The PostThe Post · 2017
The Post
7.02017
MovieDramaHistory
A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country's first female newspaper publisher and a hard-driving editor to join an unprecedented battle between journalist and government. Inspired by true events.
Aimée & JaguarAimée & Jaguar · 1999
Aimée & Jaguar
6.81999
MovieDramaHistory
In 1943, while the Allies are bombing Berlin and the Gestapo is purging the capital of Jews, a dangerous love affair blossoms between two women – one a Jewish member of the underground, the other an exemplar of Nazi motherhood.
The Talented Mr. RipleyThe Talented Mr. Ripley · 1999
The Talented Mr. Ripley
7.21999
MovieThrillerCrime
Tom Ripley is a calculating young man who believes it's better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody. Opportunity knocks in the form of a wealthy U.S. shipbuilder who hires Tom to travel to Italy to bring back his playboy son, Dickie. Ripley worms his way into the idyllic lives of Dickie and his girlfriend, plunging into a daring scheme of duplicity, lies and murder.
The Remains of the DayThe Remains of the Day · 1993
The Remains of the Day
7.41993
MovieDramaRomance
A rule-bound head butler's world of manners and decorum in the household he maintains is tested by the arrival of a housekeeper who falls in love with him in post-WWI Britain. The possibility of romance and his master's cultivation of ties with the Nazi cause challenge his carefully maintained veneer of servitude.
Breakfast on PlutoBreakfast on Pluto · 2005
Breakfast on Pluto
7.22005
MovieDramaComedy
In the 1970s, a young transgender woman called “Kitten” leaves her small Irish town for London in search of love, acceptance, and her long-lost mother.
MirrorMirror · 1975
Mirror
7.91975
MovieDramaHistory
A dying man in his forties recalls his childhood, his mother, the war and personal moments that tell of and juxtapose pivotal moments in Soviet history with daily life.
IndochineIndochine · 1992
Indochine
7.01992
MovieDramaRomance
In colonial Vietnam, dashing French naval captain Jean-Baptiste, wealthy plantation owner Éliane Devries, and her adopted Vietnamese daughter Camillevare form the three points of a cross-cultural romantic triangle. As the struggle against European imperialism sweeps Indochina, Jean-Baptiste and Camille have to choose sides and Éliane faces the emotionally difficult challenge of raising the child of her daughter and ex-lover.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter