AFI Fest 2021: Pleasure Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s AFI Fest, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

There is perhaps no more taboo subject than pornography so what better world to dive into for a film? What we may think we know about that world is perhaps something even more elaborate than we thought. Despite how one may feel about pornography, there are plenty of real, hard-working people both in front of and behind the camera who many not be so different from you and I. The aptly-titled Pleasure is a coming-of-age tale that takes place in the world of pornography. While certainly uncomfortable and awkward to watch at times, it definitely does not shy away and goes all-in in telling a grounded story as the film’s realism and fearlessness made for an even more compelling watch that is sure to take audiences on an emotional roller coaster. Though a film set in the world of pornography will obviously not be for everyone, the sheer vision on display coupled with a star-making lead performance from Sofia Kappel make it well worth the watch.

Pleasure follows a 19-year-old Swedish immigrant named Linnéa (Kappel) who took her online and social media persona of Bella Cherry as she attempted to break into the world of pornography. Little did she know what that would entail but she quickly figured it out as she continued to climb the ladder and attract the attention of producers by subjecting herself to increasingly compromising scenes as those were the ones that were seen more highly. That being said, the contrast between the people she works with when the cameras are and are not rolling was quite jarring for the most part, more so than just for her merely being a prop to be used for the gain of men. In the end, what Cherry has to go through in order to flourish in the industry would take a toll on her. While her drive and ambition was compelling to watch, what it actually meant and that resulting internal conflict made for an even more compelling watch. The big question here revolves around what her breaking point will be or if that ambition will eventually win out.

To that point, the best part of Pleasure is Kappel’s performance as Cherry. The film almost definitely would not have worked if not for her stellar charisma, relatability and screen presence. Cherry’s humanity as the ambitious and naïve aspiring porn star was a shining light amongst the darkness. While the film may not be easy to watch at times, she will be hard to look away from. Meanwhile, the film surrounds her with a boatload of real life porn stars with not all using their real names who all add to the film’s sense of authenticity.

At the end of the day, Pleasure is a pleasure, simple as that.

 still courtesy of Neon

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.