#houseoftolerance

[flawlesschignons]

L'Apollonide: Souvenirs de la maison close, 2011 (aka House of Tolerance)

[poisonappleprintshop]

I have been waiting all week to reveal my pick for #filmfriday: House of Tolerance (2011), also called House of Pleasures, directed by Bertrand Bonello. I watched this movie multiple times and I’m still not sure I can write a review that does it justice. To say I loved House of Tolerance is a massive understatement. Upon first watch, it climbed to the top of my favorite movie list before I even reached the perfect, poignant ending. It is beautiful, indulgent, languorous, and tragic all at once. The narrative captures moral decay with sharp sincerity as the visuals pull you into a sumptuous, jewel-toned dream. Set in 1899 Paris, the story chronicles the collective trials of a close-knit group of prostitutes in a luxury brothel on the brink of decline. The main characters are refreshingly real and multi-faceted as the film focuses on their collective tensions and camaraderie through the lens of their hypnotic lifestyle, one that builds an oppressive yet bewitching world within the confines of the brothel. The pace of the movie is languorous but this slow simmer gives you time to take in the rich visuals. The film is laced with the most lush, tactile aesthetics I ever had the pleasure of melting into— Dark, opulent interiors, lavish furniture, soft lighting, decadent boudoirs, a fucking panther, and the dreamiest lingerie my Victorian-loving heart could ever imagine. I can’t stress enough how gorgeous this movie is and how I need such excessive lingerie in my life! The movie is so immersive you feel as though you can taste every drop of champagne and touch every inch of velvet and silk! As if it can’t get any better, there is a timeless quality to this movie. If I didn’t know it was from 2011, I would have easily believed it was made in the 1970s. It also has an anachronistic soundtrack that adds a layer of coolness to the film from the very beginning and kicks in again at all the right moments. Overall, House of Tolerance is mesmerizing, layered, and moving-- a film that delights and flourishes before it leaves you gutted and longing for a time long past. 🎞 #houseoftolerance #houseofpleasures #1899 https://www.instagram.com/p/B-QHiTBpuwC/?igshid=1x7izu3yok0z2