★★★★☆
Ninja Thyberg’s Pleasure will not be for everyone. An unflinching look at the porn industry and especially the women in it, Thyberg’s gaze never shies away from the ugliness of it all.
Based on a short film of the same name, director Ninja Thyberg explores sex, porn, and femininity in Pleasure. Sofia Kappel stars as Bella Cherry, a 19-year-old Swede who moves to LA in order to make it in the adult film industry. She’s willing to do almost anything to make it to the top, but what does it cost to become a porn star?
For those wondering, Pleasure is graphic. How graphic, you may ask? Double anal penetration is a plot point – that should give you an idea of the kind of film Thyberg has made. Approach carefully if such things make you wince. Aside from the surface-level provocativeness and graphic portrayal of sex, Pleasure is a thoughtful exploration of abuse, the performative nature of sex in porn and being a woman in an industry that’s been known to systemically abuse women.
Once you get past the initial shock, Pleasure becomes a very interesting film. It’s unflinching and raw, but also tender in the way it treats Bella and her ambitions. Her goal of becoming a porn star – emphasis on star – is never belittled nor is particularly rooted in trauma. Her ambition is treated with the same respect and seriousness as a woman aspiring to be a CEO.
Sure, the porn industry is tough and often gross; Thyberg particularly focuses on consent and power dynamics. When Bella tries (or rather, ties) her hand at some more kinkier scenes, there is emphasis on collaboration and consent. Every precaution is made so that Bella is comfortable and she has ways of communicating if she isn’t. Every detail is discussed and communication is shown to be key in these situations.
Fast forward to another shoot where she is asked if she’s done rough scenes before, which she has, but not like this. It’s a scene with two men and Bella and they throw her about, yank her hair back and as she’s crying and pleading with them to stop, nothing happens.
She later cries to her manager that she was raped for hours and she isn’t wrong. She signed a contract for the scene, but attempted to withdraw consent during it after becoming anxious and agitated, but wasn’t allowed to. She is told this is what she signed up for, a clear attempt at victim blaming. It’s scenes like this that expose the porn industry as a ruthless one, that never has the women’s best interests at heart.
Kappel is simply extraordinary. She navigates the difficult material with grace and turns in a compelling performance that never relies on the audience pitying Bella. She’s a complex character with a lot of grey areas; she makes mistakes and acts impulsively, but never with malicious intent. Bella’s young age might show in her naivety but on Kappel’s part, it’s a mature performance.
Pleasure is undoubtedly a challenging film. It’s often a difficult watch, one that dares you to keep watching, but it’s also an exhilarating experience and morally complex. As Bella gains more power and finds her own dominant side, it doesn’t come with a triumphant sense of victory, but with the scary idea that the industry is turning her into exactly the type of monster that abused her in the first place.
Our views on sex, sexuality and sex work are currently in flux. There’s been a steady rise in films about sex work and more honest portrayal of sex on screen in films such as Good Luck To You, Leo Grande and Zola as well as Sean Baker’s breakthrough film Tangerine. On TV, shows such as Euphoria and Sex Education have treated audiences to a exposure therapy of sorts with their graphic sex scenes. Pleasure pushes the envelope even further, with admirable results.
Pleasure is in cinemas June 15 and on MUBI June 17.
