Sundance 2021: PLEASURE

In the opening sequence of Pleasure, we linger on a black screen as intimate sounds from a porn set play in the background. This is followed by an operatic choral interlude, which so perfectly ascribes the duality of Ninja Thyberg’s striking examination of the adult entertainment industry. Bouncing between the idea of business versus pleasure, the film reveals the psyche behind how the industry works, and more importantly, why someone might choose to be a part of it. Following up on her short film of the same name, Thyberg could not have crafted a more exceptional feature debut.

The film’s protagonist is Bella (Sofia Kappel), a Swedish import who hopes to break into the porn industry in Los Angeles. After arriving in the city, she’s hovered from one set to another, and slowly makes a name for herself. Staying in a house with other aspiring performers, she’s quick to form friendships, but also realizes how her own ambitions might distinguish her from her peers. As Bella dives deeper into the industry itself, it becomes unclear whether she’s achieving her dreams, or straying further from them.

Creating open discourse on a complex topic

There’s a level of emotional honesty in Pleasure that makes it easy to strip away its audacious subject matter and simply focus on the humanism of those working in front of the cameras. Thyberg is careful not to capitulate simple caricatures through her narrative, and constantly creates an open dialogue for interpretation. Bella, in particular, isn’t painted as an angel, and her innocence is streaked with a fierce ambition that is both laudable and confusing at times. This makes her character relatable as a human being, even if her line of work might seem otherworldly to most.

In a tongue-in-cheek way, Pleasure also provides a very revealing and intimate look at human ambition through a world where nudity is the norm. By focusing on an industry where people are always physically naked, it almost becomes easier to dissect the emotions underneath. The vulnerability of participating as a performer in porn creates a unique lens to examine human emotions in an honest way, and Pleasure certainly capitalizes on this. The film never clearly answers why someone might choose to perform in an industry that predicates on exploiting the female body, but it’s also careful not to condemn such a lifestyle choice either. Thyberg uses nuance to explore the power dynamic between a women’s body and those who seek to profit from it, without ever forcing her own agenda on audiences.

Revealing darkness through light

Visually, Pleasure is marvelous to look at. The film drowns in a lush and lavish colour palette, and Sophie Winqvist makes use of crisp natural lighting whenever she gets a chance to. This might seem like a curious choice for a film that’s portraying some of the darker elements of the adult entertainment industry, but the contrasting cinematography choices actually add to the revealing nature of Pleasure. By shooting most things with a degree of openness, it makes it easier to reveal the darkness, which can’t escape from the light.

Thyberg also seems to make a conscious decision not to muddle the film’s narrative into long brooding stretches, no matter how dark and violent things get. And don’t get me wrong, Pleasure doesn’t shy away from these moments, and the raw intensity of certain scenes is riveting in a uniquely discomforting way. But much like Bella, the film demonstrates a level of resiliency and finds a way to move forward, while not ignoring its past. This provides the contrast between light and dark that creates clarity for the audience and amplifies the tonal messaging of the film.

An impressive debut

Looking back at Kappel’s commanding performance in Pleasure, it’s hard to believe that she had no acting experiences prior to being cast in this film. Kappel is simply masterful in her complex characterization of Bella, and her hypnotic presence elevates the narrative in a manner that some actresses can only dream of doing. The emotional range she demonstrates, and the fact that she’s essentially in every frame of the film, is beyond impressive.

No matter how you look at it, this is a highly accomplished debut feature from an emerging director who clearly has the vision and depth of a great filmmaker. Thyberg has created a film that can be difficult to watch but is so mesmerizing that it can also be hard to look away from. Pleasure is simply a standout exercise in filmmaking.