Who else is afraid of the dark side of the entertainment industry?
We have heard plenty of horror stories from all kinds of films and television shows with plenty of horrors going on. Whether it was the directors, the actors, or the staff, there are plenty of predators out there waiting to do their worst. There are directors like Stanley Kubrick who would emotionally abuse his actors to get the perfect performance possible out of them. You have plenty of sexual predators from the likes of Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby who have destroyed the careers of plenty of women for fighting back. There have been dangerous ramifications as well as horrible deaths on set as well.
But what is the most concerning of sets?
The adult film industry. Sex workers are in an awkward spot as there is plenty of taboo on what they do which grossly brings plenty of abuse upon them. Some people have a sick perspective that they deserve such terrible treatments. There are a lot fewer regulations and a lot more predatory setups for these types of films. Adult films can be at once a strong beacon of sex positivity as well as being a disturbing representation of the horrible things that can be done.
With the Neon release of this new drama, Pleasure, what is Ninja Thyberg able to portray about this specific entertainment industry?
First off, this is the rawest take you will ever see on screen. This is “unrated” for a reason. There are plenty of genitals to be shown and they always have a purpose to portray. This might be hard for many of the audience, but this unrelenting perspective makes the abuse that occurs that much more impactful. There are multiple scenes throughout the portray abuse on set and they show the trials that our protagonist must endure on her journey from losing her soul to regaining it again. You cannot help but feel for the woman and men on screen as they must contend with warped and twisted expectations along the way.
What about Thyberg’s direction?
This film is almost two-hours and never loses its steam. This film knows how to keep the narrative thrusting and the energy perpetuating. The narrative never lets up as each scene offers something new narratively or thematically. The technical aspects of this film are top-notch as well as the colors pop and the framing perfectly captures each body and every occurrence. You cannot look away either.
But what about the actual tale that Thyberg spins in this film?
The weakest aspect of this film is the fact that the general story is quite familiar and done to death. We have all seen the young person with big dreams get corrupted and must find themselves again type story. That is Pleasure to a “T”. But what makes it so effective is the no-holds-barred approach with the familiar story. Each set and scene packs such a poignant punch that you cannot help but be impacted on an emotional level. You soon forget that you know where the main story will go. The journey that our protagonist, Belle Cherry, goes on has familiar beats from her getting in danger to lying to save her career but harming a friend to her turning to the dark side and having to come out on the other end.
What about the stars who populate the scenes themselves?
Sofia Kappel has a tall order to fill being a nervous novice at times to being an excitable sexual being to being a power-hungry monster at times. Kappel running this gambit is quite impressive. Her rival, Ava, is portrayed with the perfect amount of cold and iciness by the talent Evelyn Claire. Zelda Morrison offers up plenty of energy as Bella’s friend who is always by her side (until Bella sacrifices this relationship for fame and position). There are plenty of other supporting actors who fill their roles well leaving Pleasure with a quality ensemble.
Does Pleasure prove too much for the general audience?
If you can get past the taboo, there is a poignant commentary on the industry and a classic tale of corruption to sink your teeth into.
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This will certainly be a tough sell. Most people will be turned away by the tons of sex and graphic nudity and sexual content. But this all feels needed for the narrative that this film is trying to tell.
