A Colonial Tale of Forbidden Love Reveals the Secret History of the Jungle

(The Sleeping Dictionary, 2003) tells a romantic love story that takes place in British Borneo in the 1930s. John, a young Englishman, is sent to Borneo as a colonial administrator. He is assigned to live with a “dictionary girl” named Selima in order to learn the local language and culture. A “dictionary girl” was a type of female companionship, often involving intimacy, that helped colonial administrators learn the language and customs. Although John is initially uncomfortable with this system, he is gradually attracted to Selima's beauty and intelligence, and the two fall in love. However, their relationship violates the colonial system and racial prejudice, and is also opposed by the upper class. Faced with the conflict of family, system, culture and love, John must choose between duty and true love. The movie explores themes of colonialism, cultural conflict and forbidden love.