You’ve heard this tale of superstar dreams many times before. A young talent comes to Hollywood to make it in the entertainment business. Along the way, they are faced with tough choices and question whether it’s really all worth it in the long run. It’s a story that’s been told from the perspective of actors, pop stars, and models, but the over-the-top exploits of “Boogie Nights” notwithstanding, the narrative depiction of a porn star’s rise has been few and far between. Let alone a depiction that tries to erase the stereotypes consistently perpetrated by the mainstream media. The fact Ninja Thyberg’s thought-provoking new film “Pleasure,” which debuted at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on Sunday, is able to pull that off is noteworthy in and of itself. The fiery debut of its lead actress? That’s a bonus.
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Like many struggling talents, 19-year-old Bella Cherry (Sofia Kappel, simply phenomenal), arrives in LA from Sweden all by her lonesome with hopes of becoming a famous porn star. Signed by a minor booking agent, she ends getting a bed in a “model house” filled with other day-player actors in the biz. She’s eventually befriended by Joy (Revika Anne Reustle, a light) another relatively new girl on the scene whose confidence fuels Bella when she needs it. When Bella arrives at her first photoshoot she’s given the competitive cold shoulder by Ava (Evelyn Claire), another new porn actress who is represented by noted adult film agent Mark Spiegler (as himself). His clients are known as the best of the best in the industry and Bella immediately makes it a goal to become one of “Spiegler’s Girls.” Even if it means appearing in the less vanilla types of scenes she planned on avoiding until further along in her career.
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As opportunity knocks, Bella eventually finds herself having to choose between the loyalty of the friends she’s made along the way and business decisions that could impact her long term career. Replace the porn scene with a movie set, recording studio, a Broadway stage, or fashion shoot, and Bella’s plight is the same dramatic conflict that has persisted in the creative arena for centuries. What’s strikingly revolutionary in “Pleasure” is how Thyberg’s gaze provides Bella’s story much-needed context by embracing the mundane aspects of this particular world.
Yes, Bella finds herself at private industry parties where actors show off their wares in skimpy outfits and hang out in hot tubs. But those events also have closed off VIP sections and security in suits that make it all seem more corporate than anything else. It’s not a non-stop orgy of decadence. It’s a business.
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Thyberg spent time embedded in the porn world and intentionally cast every role outside of Bella’s with real people from the industry. This assists her in capturing humanity in their day to day lives. For instance, on set Bella and a male actor talk about the latest Hungry Shark game on his iPhone in-between set-ups. On another day she discovers a male actor has to secretly inject himself with a stimulant to perform for the camera. And when Bella is doing a scene, Thyberg has the camera switch to her perspective so you realize she’s often starring uncomfortably into a bright key light the entire time.
Now, for those of the faint of heart, yes, there are simulated sex scenes in “Pleasure,” but nothing that would constitute pornography (although an NC-17 rating in the U.S. is expected). There is a also good chunk of male nudity (and phallus) rarely seen in American-set films. That being said, the “sex scenes” in the film are rarely erotic if at all. Thyberg is here to deconstruct the porn industry, not to craft an infomercial for it. In so doing, she makes some explicit points that might even make the porn power brokers uncomfortable.
Looking to show Spiegler she’s up to snuff, Bella asks her manager to book her a “rough scene.” Despite the fact she’s already participated in an artistic and safe S&M shoot, she’s not prepared for what occurs when she shows up to set. Her two male scene partners are immediately much more aggressive with her than she expected. When she implores the scene to stop, they do, but then the lines begin to blur. The male director reminds Bella she has consented to this and while they can stop, she won’t get paid for working half a scene. The other actors are sympathetic, but clearly hope she’ll continue so they can get paid as well. Thyberg is intent on breaking stereotypes overall, but she’s not going to give what can be still be constituted as a patriarchal industry a free pass.
Thyberg’s efforts are aided by glorious camera work from cinematographer Sophie Winqvist as well as an unexpectedly beautiful score composed by Karl Frid. The movie’s secret weapon, of course, is Kappel in one of the most impressive debut performances in recent memory. Whether you find the subject matter intriguing or not, Kappel keeps you enraptured in Bella’s character arc even when its destination becomes inevitable. Kappel is so captivating the porn trappings are secondary. You simply want to see what she does on screen next. [B+]
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