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The Assistant
2020 88 min United States of America R 16+
★6.8
Drama
Director: Kitty Green
Trailers
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Teaser
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Description
A searing look at a day in the life of an assistant to a powerful executive. As Jane follows her daily routine, she grows increasingly aware of the insidious abuse that threatens every aspect of her position.
US Gross:
$1.1M
Worldwide:
$1.34M
Starring
Julia Garner
Actor
Owen Holland
Actor
Jon Orsini
Actor
Awards
4 wins & 25 nominations total
Key opinion
The Assistant is a minimalist, observational drama that portrays the mundane horrors of a toxic workplace through the eyes of an entry-level employee. While critics largely laud the film's realistic depiction of systemic abuse and Julia Garner's restrained performance, audience reception is polarized by its slow, uneventful pace and ambiguous narrative resolution.
| Acting | Julia Garner anchors the film with a compelling, restrained performance that conveys the internal toll of powerlessness. | |
| Direction | Kitty Green utilizes an immersive, minimalist directorial style that effectively translates the crushing monotony and claustrophobia of corporate office life. | |
| Theme | The film serves as a sobering and culturally relevant commentary on the systemic nature of workplace harassment and complicity. | |
| Pacing | The narrative's commitment to an uneventful, slow-burn realism creates a divide: some viewers find it hauntingly immersive, while others find it dull and lacking in dramatic payoff. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are split between those who value its subtle, observational approach to #MeToo themes and those who find the storytelling too vague and devoid of a meaningful climax. |