Pleasure (2021)

[Darth Marcus]

Source: Deadline

A24 Lands 2021 Sundance Drama ‘Pleasure’, On The Degradation Of Women In Los Angeles Porn Scene
Mike Fleming Jr - February 8, 2021

A24 said Monday that it acquired U.S. rights to the Ninja Thyberg-directed 2021 Sundance Film Festival drama Pleasure. This was a film that had been announced as a Cannes title for 2020 before the fest was canceled because of Covid, and made its debut as part of virtual Sundance.

The drama stars Sofia Kappel as an aspiring porn star who arrives from Sweden determined to become a big star. While the drama’s point is to recognize the rape culture and degradation that women are put through in that line of business in Los Angeles, the film itself is about as close to a porn film as any that has been released theatrically in recent memory, with complete nudity and simulated sex that is shocking.

A24 will release the full uncensored version alongside a new R-Rated version later this year.

The film is produced by Eliza Jones, Markus Waltå, and Erik Hemmendorff.

CAA Media Finance brokered the deal alongside Versatile, who is also handling international rights. Executive producers are Pape Boye and Violaine Pichon of Versatile. Co-producers are Leontine Petit and Erik Glijnis of Lemming Film; Peter Possne and Caroline Ljungberg of Film i Väst; Anna Croneman of SVT; and Frédéric Fiore and Eric Tavitian of Logical Pictures.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Interesting.

[CrazyBlu-RayFan]

A24 will release the full uncensored version alongside a new R-Rated version later this year.

Wow, didn't even have to assume this time. Had a feeling it would have to be censored for an R rating based on what it's about.

[Foggy]

MUBI has international rights for this.

[Himmel]

Neon has taken U.S. rights, will release in 2022. @

[The Debts]

Originally Posted by Himmel

Neon has taken U.S. rights, will release in 2022. @

How did they wrangle this from A24? Were they not willing to hold it or no?

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by The Debts

How did they wrangle this from A24? Were they not willing to hold it or no?

[cheez avenger]

So by "uncensored," are they going to show the actual penetration? Like that French film Bas Moi?

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

So by "uncensored," are they going to show the actual penetration? Like that French film Bas Moi?

Probably Male and Female frontal.

[J-Mart]

Originally Posted by mwynn

Probably Male and Female frontal.

Male Frontal may also be erect.

[Noremac Mij]

A24 can fu@k off if they can’t handle some nudity.

[nissling]

I saw this film last Wednesday on a preview in Stockholm. Director Ninja Thyberg attended for Q&A after the screening. She's been very active in her opposition to the adult film industry since early 2000s and this is her first feature length film. In preparation she attended many shoots in LA, interviewed producers, actors, directors etc. Almost all actors in the film are active in the adult industry, although the lead role is played by Sofia Kappel who's not starred in any film whatsoever up to this point making it a very strong debut.

Ninja however made it clear that her research and all the work that went into the film made her rethink much of her opinions. Pornography, as shown in the film, is a symptom of a patriarchy and not the other way around. Once the camera is put behind the set, you quickly realize that Ninja is undressing the industry and showing its dirty face. Women are portrayed as strong individuals, fully aware of how they're exploited rather than victims. At the same time, Ninja never gets sentimental or tries to tell her morals to the viewer. We are left with open questions that everyone where everyone will reflect different on.

I obviously saw the uncensored version and this is a very graphic film. Full nudes with clear focus on genitals is common from start to finish. Masturbation is frequent. BDSM and rape scenes also occurs. There's no penetration in picture however but some scenes are extremely disturbing. This is not for the faint of heart, but even so I still think you've got much to win by giving it a watch.

Nissling approves.

[RalphoR]

Originally Posted by nissling

I saw this film last Wednesday on a preview in Stockholm. Director Ninja Thyberg attended for Q&A after the screening. She's been very active in her opposition to the adult film industry since early 2000s and this is her first feature length film. In preparation she attended many shoots in LA, interviewed producers, actors, directors etc. Almost all actors in the film are active in the adult industry, although the lead role is played by Sofia Kappel who's not starred in any film whatsoever up to this point making it a very strong debut.

Ninja however made it clear that her research and all the work that went into the film made her rethink much of her opinions. Pornography, as shown in the film, is a symptom of a patriarchy and not the other way around. Once the camera is put behind the set, you quickly realize that Ninja is undressing the industry and showing its dirty face. Women are portrayed as strong individuals, fully aware of how they're exploited rather than victims. At the same time, Ninja never gets sentimental or tries to tell her morals to the viewer. We are left with open questions that everyone where everyone will reflect different on.

I obviously saw the uncensored version and this is a very graphic film. Full nudes with clear focus on genitals is common from start to finish. Masturbation is frequent. BDSM and rape scenes also occurs. There's no penetration in picture however but some scenes are extremely disturbing. This is not for the faint of heart, but even so I still think you've got much to win by giving it a watch.

Nissling approves.

So you're saying this is not a family friendly movie?

[Steedeel]

are we still likely to get the directors cut when A24 release the Blu-ray?

Edit: Never mind, just read Foggy’s post stating Mubi have it.

I may just grab the German disc If it is the directors cut.

[fighthefutureofhd]

Originally Posted by nissling

I saw this film last Wednesday on a preview in Stockholm. Director Ninja Thyberg attended for Q&A after the screening. She's been very active in her opposition to the adult film industry since early 2000s and this is her first feature length film. In preparation she attended many shoots in LA, interviewed producers, actors, directors etc. Almost all actors in the film are active in the adult industry, although the lead role is played by Sofia Kappel who's not starred in any film whatsoever up to this point making it a very strong debut.

Ninja however made it clear that her research and all the work that went into the film made her rethink much of her opinions. Pornography, as shown in the film, is a symptom of a patriarchy and not the other way around. Once the camera is put behind the set, you quickly realize that Ninja is undressing the industry and showing its dirty face. Women are portrayed as strong individuals, fully aware of how they're exploited rather than victims. At the same time, Ninja never gets sentimental or tries to tell her morals to the viewer. We are left with open questions that everyone where everyone will reflect different on.

I obviously saw the uncensored version and this is a very graphic film. Full nudes with clear focus on genitals is common from start to finish. Masturbation is frequent. BDSM and rape scenes also occurs. There's no penetration in picture however but some scenes are extremely disturbing. This is not for the faint of heart, but even so I still think you've got much to win by giving it a watch.

Nissling approves.

I definitely want to check it out now, but the director's views and her being a woman really has me a tad nervous and uneasy. I understand she has qualms about porn and I do get where she may be coming from. However, she is a woman and 95% of porn is not made for women. And of course she has a problem with it. Most women do. I just don't like the idea that women have of porn being bad for society, men, and women in general. It's not bad. It's just like anything else in life where moderation is key. I still want to see this.

Originally Posted by Damon1281

Sure are a lot of tattoos in modern porn, it seems.

You don't know the half of it. And it's been this way for over 10 years. Really bad in AM films too.

Originally Posted by Poya

It's fascinating how Neon is stealing A24's thunder. A24 nearly chickened out on this?

Nearly? They did chicken out. That's why Neon's releasing it now. The movie is not even going to be that graphic. I've seen way worse movies at the local cinema. Stranger by The Lake comes to mind. That was like watching a full on pron at the theater.

[nissling]

Originally Posted by fighthefutureofhd

I definitely want to check it out now, but the director's views and her being a woman really has me a tad nervous and uneasy. I understand she has qualms about porn and I do get where she may be coming from. However, she is a woman and 95% of porn is not made for women. And of course she has a problem with it. Most women do. I just don't like the idea that women have of porn being bad for society, men, and women in general. It's not bad. It's just like anything else in life where moderation is key. I still want to see this.

Historically speaking Ninja has been very loud about her criticism against pornography, but during her research for this film she seems to have revalued much of it. She's been part in a few discussions over the past year regarding the subject and it's very clear that she does not get along well with many feminists who judges pornography based on outdated reports and prejudice.

The film itself is obviously fairly neutral and it's up to the viewer to make their own evaluation. There's no right or wrong here and there's no reason feeling nervous about the film because Ninja being an active feminist. I'm just saying you shouldn't expect something in the likes of Boogie Nights.

[dex14]

Wow. Neon is ****ing killing it this year. Their slate is awesome.

[bensfiction]

I don't know what film school dropouts they hire here, but PLEASE just stick to doing AV reviews. That's why we're here. If we wanted to hear some quasi-pretentious bullshit review we'd go elsewhere. The reviewers here are beyond up their own ass with their reviews, and I'm tired of it. Does anyone have any suggestions of sites that review the AV quality of a disc WITHOUT spouting their ill informed two cents?

[unberechenbar]

Originally Posted by bensfiction

I don't know what film school dropouts they hire here, but PLEASE just stick to doing AV reviews. That's why we're here. If we wanted to hear some quasi-pretentious bullshit review we'd go elsewhere. The reviewers here are beyond up their own ass with their reviews, and I'm tired of it. Does anyone have any suggestions of sites that review the AV quality of a disc WITHOUT spouting their ill informed two cents?

I don't see a review for this up yet.

[Bugg]

Originally Posted by bensfiction

I don't know what film school dropouts they hire here, but PLEASE just stick to doing AV reviews. That's why we're here. If we wanted to hear some quasi-pretentious bullshit review we'd go elsewhere. The reviewers here are beyond up their own ass with their reviews, and I'm tired of it. Does anyone have any suggestions of sites that review the AV quality of a disc WITHOUT spouting their ill informed two cents?

Review seems pretty accurate me.