Ninja Thyberg's 'Pleasure': A Political Film Beyond Porn

Swedish director Ninja Thyberg, a protégé of Ruben Östlund (Palme d'Or winner at Cannes 2017 and 2022), has released 'Pleasure' on MUBI. The film follows Linnéa, a 19-year-old who moves to Los Angeles to become a porn star, confronting a brutal, exploitative industry. Thyberg, who graduated from the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2015, uses explicit content to critique systemic misogyny and objectification. Her earlier short 'Pleasure' (2013) screened at Sundance and won the Canal Plus Award at Cannes Critics' Week. 'Hot Chicks' (2014) won the 1km Film Award at Stockholm International Film Festival, and 'Catwalk' (2015) received the Student Visionary Award at Tribeca Film Festival. 'Stallion' was presented at the Stockholm Festival in 2015.