- Starring
- Sofia Kappel, Revika Anne Reustle, Evelyn Claire
- Writer
- Ninja Thyberg
- Director
- Ninja Thyberg
- Rating
- n/a
- Running Time
- 109 minutes
- Release Date
- n/a
Overall Score
Rating Summary
This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Sundance Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.
In a day and age where the sex work industry is transitioning from an independent business to outlets such as OnlyFans, the industry has been forced to adapt to the times. With Pleasure, writer/director Ninja Thyberg takes a look at the patriarchal problems and raw emotions that come along with that field of work in this exceptional feature debut.
Pleasure follows up-and-coming porn actress Bella Cherry (Kappel) as she navigates the ups and downs of the industry. Viewers are taken on a graphic journey that holds nothing back in its depiction of the industry’s utter disrespect of women as they come up. As her endeavors grow more and more risqué, the behind the scenes female perspective shows their emotional toll. Many of these scenes are hard to watch but they were nonetheless very important as they shed a light on the reality many face or have faced. Meanwhile, the fact that the film is also Kappel’s acting debut is mind-blowing. She is truly a talented actress with a bright future.
Another interesting aspect about Pleasure was the involvement of figures within the adult industry over the course of the film despite its damning subject matter. The only one member not involved with the industry was Kappel.
At the end of the day, this is sure to be a divisive film. Its graphic nudity and mature subject matter may be a contentious point for some which is a shame as there is truly masterful storytelling on display here.
still courtesy of Sundance
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