![]() The interesting thing about it, though, is that it isn't the sex itself that gets under your skin. This piece almost strives to make you uncomfortable because it wants you to face the realities of a pretty shady business. It's funny how nobody blinks an eye when seeing someone's head get blown off in a movie, but almost everyone feels at least a little uncomfortable when someone takes their clothes off and starts having sex. Everything we see is necessary in telling this tale, which is rare even for something that isn't dealing with a potentially tricky topic. The flick doesn't feel exploitative at all, taking a fairly feminist approach to its material and always feeling like it has something to say. Sofia Kappel delivers a bold, bracing debut performance (apparently, auditioning for the film was a way to push her out of her comfort zone) and the rest of its cast - which is mostly comprised of current or former porn performers, producers and directors - is surprisingly good, too. Though the feature isn't especially entertaining in the traditional sense (it certainly isn't fun), it's a consistently challenging and compelling affair that manages to be explicit enough to feel as though it's doing its taboo subject justice (and to be genuinely shocking at times) but not so explicit as to feel as though it's overly gratuitous or insensitive. I suppose this is how it manages to be both empathetic and non-judgemental towards the women who seek a career in porn and unsympathetic towards the men who take advantage of them. ![]() Perhaps its goal is to be as realistic as possible, not necessarily impartial but not forceful in its implied assertions. Whether or not that is its intention is unclear, especially considering that the flick does go out of its way to include both the good and the bad parts of its protagonist's journey. If porn is something you're into, I can see this actually putting you off. Having said that, the overwhelming feeling that this picture provokes is undeniably icky. The picture constantly presents this push-pull between how the porn industry ought to work and how it actually does, remaining relatively neutral to the concept but condemning its execution. It stands in stark contrast to a similar scene shown just minutes earlier, the shooting of which has its star surrounded by people who make sure she's comfortable and genuinely feel as though they're concerned for her safety (it's no accident that a lot of these people are women). The most notable of these is the filming of a rough and degrading three-way scene which our protagonist continues to consent to only because she has no other option - which, of course, means she doesn't consent at all. Indeed, there are a few scenes which are incredibly difficult to watch. This frank and unapologetic exploration of the Los Angeles porn industry almost feels like an exposé at times, with its naturalistic presentation granting it a fly-on-the-wall feel which makes its more shocking moments all the more upsetting. ![]() 'Pleasure (2021)' isn't exactly an enjoyable experience, and the irony of its title doesn't seem lost on writer-director Ninja Thyberg.
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