The Servant
dir. Joseph Losey · 1963
The struggle for power and control can corrupt relationships and reveal the darker aspects of human nature.
"The Servant" masterfully dissects the complex interplay of power and class within a seemingly normal household, where the lines between servant and master blur to reveal unsettling truths. With its gripping tension and psychological depth, this film invites viewers to reflect on the hidden dynamics of servitude and authority.
Indolent aristocrat Tony employs competent Barrett as his manservant and all seems to be going well until Barrett persuades Tony to hire his sister as a live-in maid.
Full synopsisspoilers
The aristocratic Tony (James Fox) moves to London and hires the servant Hugo Barrett (Sir Dirk Bogarde) for all services at home. Barrett seems to be a loyal and competent employee, but Tony's girlfriend Susan (Wendy Craig) does not like him, and asks Tony to send him away. When Barrett brings his sister Vera (Sarah Miles) to work and live in the house, Tony has a brief hidden affair with her. After travelling with Susan and spending a couple of days in a friend's house outside London, the couple unexpectedly returns and finds Barrett and Vera, who are actually lovers, in Tony's room.
They are fired and Susan breaks with Tony. Later, Tony meets Barrett alone in a pub and hires him back, and Barrett imposes his real dark intentions in the house, turning the table and switching position with his master.
Talking points
- class struggle
- the nature of servitude
- psychological manipulation
- gender dynamics
