The Sleeping Dictionary
He's an unexpected education.
2003 | 109m | English
Popularity: 3 (history)
| Director: | Guy Jenkin |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Guy Jenkin |
| Staring: |
| 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. | |
| Release Date: | Jan 31, 2003 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Guy Jenkin |
| Writer: | Guy Jenkin |
| Genres: | Drama, Romance |
| Keywords | forbidden love, borneo, period drama, 1930s, romantic drama |
| Production Companies | Fine Line Features, Hat Trick Productions, Katira Productions |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $57,524
Budget: $12,000,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Feb 04, 2026 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Jessica Alba | Selima |
| Brenda Blethyn | Aggie |
| Hugh Dancy | John Truscott |
| Bob Hoskins | Henry Bullard |
| Christopher Ling Lee Ian | Jasmine |
| Junix Inocian | Famous |
| Michael Jessing Langgi | Melaka |
| Mano Maniam | Policeman |
| K.K. Moggie | Tipong |
| Emily Mortimer | Cecil |
| Cicilia Anak Richard | Jester Woman |
| Malcolm Rogers | Vicar |
| Eugene Salleh | Belansai |
| Noah Taylor | Neville |
| Kate Helen White | Mandar |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Guy Jenkin | Director, Writer |
| Penny Rose | Costume Design |
| Mohammad Z.B.H. Hassan | Hairstylist |
| Mohamad Roslan Ahmad | Makeup Artist |
| Saidatulnisa B.T. Aminuddin | Makeup Artist, Hairstylist |
| Lesley Walker | Editor |
| Mohammad Z.B.A. Rahman | Makeup Artist |
| Simon Boswell | Original Music Composer |
| Errol Kelly | Art Direction |
| Simon Holland | Production Design |
| Colin Nicolson | Sound Mixer |
| Martin Fuhrer | Director of Photography |
| Amber Sibley | Makeup Artist |
| Mary Selway | Casting |
| Judy Farr | Set Decoration |
| Clinton Cavers | Supervising Art Director |
| Jack Deutchman | Post Production Supervisor |
| Frank Salvino | Post Production Supervisor |
| Maria Walker | Post Production Supervisor |
| Carla Fry | Executive In Charge Of Production |
| Jody Levin | Executive In Charge Of Production |
| Robin Hollister | Unit Manager |
| Magen Appathurai | Unit Manager |
| Frank Hildebrand | Unit Production Manager |
| Rachel Neale | Unit Production Manager |
| Ainsley De Silva | Production Manager |
| Mark Egerton | First Assistant Director |
| Sherard Jayasuriya | Second Assistant Director |
| Liz Legum | Second Assistant Director |
| Casper Campbell | Third Assistant Director |
| Simon Bosanquet | Second Unit Director |
| Gregory Stitt | Second Unit First Assistant Director |
| Hairul Salleh Askor | Second Second Assistant Director, Extras Casting Coordinator |
| Mark Lisbon | Stunt Coordinator |
| Ray De-Haan | Stunts |
| Kenneth Yip Yong Jua | Extras Casting Assistant |
| Goh Sim Zee | Extras Casting Assistant |
| Sylvester Thomas | Extras Casting |
| Fiona Weir | Casting Assistant |
| Sue Field | Script Supervisor |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Jimmy Mulville | Producer |
| Mark Ordesky | Executive Producer |
| Simon Bosanquet | Producer |
| Denise O'Donoghue | Producer |
| Frank Hildebrand | Executive Producer |
| Chandran Rutnam | Associate Producer |
| Charles Wang | Associate Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 20 | 34 | 11 |
| 2024 | 5 | 19 | 27 | 12 |
| 2024 | 6 | 20 | 33 | 10 |
| 2024 | 7 | 23 | 38 | 15 |
| 2024 | 8 | 18 | 39 | 11 |
| 2024 | 9 | 15 | 32 | 9 |
| 2024 | 10 | 18 | 26 | 11 |
| 2024 | 11 | 17 | 35 | 12 |
| 2024 | 12 | 17 | 28 | 10 |
| 2025 | 1 | 17 | 28 | 11 |
| 2025 | 2 | 14 | 26 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| 2025 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Trending Position