The Sleeping Dictionary

John is a young Englishman who travels to Sarawak to apply his father's humanitarian ideals by building schools. He is eager and naive, learning quickly that local customs and languages require more than good intentions. His quest for education collides with personal loyalties, as love for Selima deepens while imperial duties pull him toward Britain.

Selima is an Iban woman who becomes John's sleeping dictionary, guiding him through language and daily life. She navigates power dynamics within the longhouse and shows quiet strength amid upheaval. Her relationship with John and her role as mother to Mandar become focal points of the story.

Henry is a senior British official who represents imperial authority and paternal control. He wields power over John and Selima, and his past with a 'sleeping dictionary' hints at a complicated history with indigenous relationships. His choices drive the central conflict for much of the film.

Aggie is Henry's wife who guards their social standing and fears losing influence to Selima's presence. She is pragmatic and cautious, often pressuring others to maintain the status quo. Her loyalty to Henry places her at the heart of the colony's social tensions.

Neville is a boorish British official who displays contempt for locals and jealousy toward John's path. He watches the events unfold with scorn and impatience, adding to the colonial power dynamics. His actions threaten John, Selima, and their child until he is confronted by the Yakata.

Cecilia is Henry Bullard's daughter, entering into an arranged year-long marriage with John. She senses the pull toward Selima, and her pregnancy adds strain to the triangle of loyalties. By the end, she supports John's happiness with Selima, acknowledging his heart lies elsewhere.

Belansai is a Yakata man who acts as a protective figure for Selima and the community; he confronts John over his relationship with Selima, and he is ultimately captured and executed for attempting to kill an officer. His actions highlight the danger and harsh justice of colonial rule.

Mandar is Selima and Belansai's child; John believes the child might be his, representing a future beyond empire and borders. The baby becomes a focal point for loyalties and the possibility of a life shared outside traditional power structures.