A Film That Refused to Look Away
When Pleasure first premiered at Sundance, the atmosphere was equally filled with eagerness and discomfort. Marketed as the unvarnished, explicit exploration of the adult film business, it was obvious this would not be yet another pornographic film wrapped up in artifice. Film maker Ninja Thyberg, in her feature debut, sought to explore the themes of industry ambitions and vulnerabilities of both the industry and its participants.
The trailers alone generated controversy — a bright-eyed girl coming out of Sweden to Los Angeles in pursuit of her dreams, only to land in a scenario where each decision is much more complex than it appears. People started arguing — was this too much exploitation doing art, or was it just finally doing the much-needed tethering of the uncomforting reality.
Pleasure revolves around a girl named Linnea played by Sofia Kappel. Linnea is an aspiring porn star who purposefully relocates to Los Angeles. She adopts the screen name Bella Cherry and enters the adult film where ambition and exploitation lie. The storyline to the movie is deceptive. Navigating auditions and shoots is only one of the many things Bella has to deal with. Making friends and subsequently suffering betrayal and engaging in rivalries is another. This is not a tale of porn. This is a tale about the power and the desire.
There is so much symbolism in these moments. One that stands out is Bella’s first audition shoot where she’s forcing a smile and struggling with herself. It is symbolic of the wider concept of women contorting themselves to survive in a male dominated world. The camera, more often than not, focuses not on the intercourse but on the face and the eyes of Bella, who, in a rather haunting way, oscillates between the world of performance and reality. It is a reminder that in the world of performance and especially in this world, consent is multi-dimensional and flimsy at best.
The evolution of this character from an unblemished outsider to a ruthless ambitious person, is nothing short from the countless ‘American Dream’ tales. The only difference is that the dream in this particular case, is rotten to the core, and stripped of it’s dignity, is placed on the open market.
On Sofia Kappel’s Leap Into Fire
What captrued the essence of Pleasure, was Sofia Kappel herself. Despite being a newcomer and not having any previous films, she was able to wow the reviewers by carrying the movie with a form of audacity and courage from which, they were left dumbfounded. In reality, Sofia Kappel herself, didn’t even think of the possibility of taking on this role, until Thyberg’s director, who, for more than a year, worked with her in hopes to bring out the best. Kappel, in this case, was filled with fear and thus trust is first built.
Kappel’s leap into the unknown echoed the path taken by Bella Cherry. Just as Bella seizes the opportunity of joining a field that has its fair share of criticism and judgment, Kappel entered the realm of cinema with the cloud of controversy that accompanied her debut. In her interviews, she stated she empathized with Bella’s sense of isolation in Los Angeles, the anxiety of being evaluated, and the need to validate her existence. That stark similarity between the character and the real life situation added a chilling reality to her performance.
Power Games and the Illusion of Choice
The illusion of agency is one of the most powerful themes of the film. Bella insists many times that she is the one in control, that the decisions she is making are all her’s to make. Still, in scene after scene, the industry confines her to boxes. The symbolism is vivid: directors telling her to ‘relax’, male co-stars pressuring her into more severe acts, managers promising her fame.
This does not only reflect the adult film industry, but workplaces everywhere where women are told they are free — until they try to subvert the system. Thyberg does not allow viewers to avert their gaze. Even moments of female togetherness where Bella is bonding with other performers are broken by the tension of competition and survival.
The Director’s Unrelenting Vision
Ninja Thyberg’s focus is also deserving of its focus. She spent several years in the industry researching its various facets and talking to adult film performers, directors, and producers before making Pleasure. She meticulously avoided the ‘glossy’ approach to the filmmaking process — a process which in turn required hiring adult performers in supporting roles to keep the illusion of authenticity.
One aspect of production that stands out is that Thyberg firmly believed in constructing replicas of adult film sets, which resulted in the lack of authenticity and emotion in a scene. She wished that the sets should look occupied rather than pristine. The same concern was extended to her actors’ safety, who had to work with intimacy coordinators, and with all boundaries in a scene treated with care. Some actors, who later came out to speak about their experience, shared their emotional vulnerabilities, which was Thyberg’s primary focus, as more difficult to bare than the physical
Interestingly, there were some changes to the cast along the way. Some performers who were initially interested to participate were highly taken back to receive the script due to its ‘raw’ elements. This cemented the reputation of the film even prior to its production.
A Mirror That Divided Viewers
The anticipation leading up to the release was intense and full of questions. However, the moment the movie was released, the reaction was divided. While some critics deemed it a work of art and a strong representation of feminism, others accused the movie of borderline exploitation. Social media was filled with discussions, and while some fans compared it to Boogie Nights, others simply called it “arthouse shock value.”
As for India, a country that typically shies away from discussions around pornography, the film managed to gain some popularity, though it was primarily due to poor quality festival screenings and pirated copies. Online discussion boards erupted over the concept of whether Bella Cherry was simply a victim of the patriarchy, or a powerful woman who was aware of her desires. The lack of resolution around this question also happens to be the film’s greatest and most powerful quality.
The Symbolism of Bella’s Transformation
Each aspect of Pleasure, from the editing to the cinematography, was carefully thought out. The difference in lighting in the scene’s where Bella Cherry lives and the scenes when she is in the middle of a pornographic shoot is noteworthy.
Even her tattoos are laden with meaning. The ink she gathers throughout the film becomes armor, each marking a new stage of her transformation. When Bella ‘arrives’ in the industry, her body is not just her own anymore; it is a testament to her ambition, compromise, and attempts at survival. It a canvas of survival, ambition and compromise.
What Stayed After the Credits
What lurks beneath the surface of Pleasure’s sensationalism while assuring the audience of their bewilderment? Is self-betrayal a suitable price to pay for ambition? Is consent worth anything after it has been reflexively sculpted by economic necessity? How much of Bella Cherry’s tale is in fact just an exaggerated retelling of the daily battles women have to fight in order to climb any sort of ladder, be it corporate, cinematic or even personal?
The film’s impact has also shaped the perception of Sofia Kappel. She transformed in an instant from being anonymous to garnering praises for one of the boldest debuts in modern cinema. For Thyberg, it is a stamp of her reputation. She is fearless and unafraid to discomfort her audience by showing unsanitized systems.
For the audience, it was much more than pornographic visuals within borders of a film. It was an encounter with an inconvenient and uncomfortable reality that desire, oppression and power are woven not just in the adult industry, but also in life.
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