The greatest
mistake made in marketing this French costume drama is the misrepresentation of
what can be expected. Sex sells, so it is hardly a surprise that this is the
element of the series which has been embellished in attempts to get American
audiences to become viewers, but this is not the type of series to indulge in
the exploitation of its actresses. Instead, this is a show which exposes the
poor treatment of the unfortunate women who were once in this position,
exposing the real-life drama rather than catering to the campier elements that
the marketing team contradictorily uses as a selling point. Although sex is at
the center of the storyline, it is all in service of the narrative and with far
less nudity than one might expect from a French series about a bordello.
Taking place in a
government owned Parisian brothel shortly after the end of the Franco-Prussian
War, we enter into the despair-filled occupation through the eyes of a young
girl tricked into the lifestyle through debt. Rose (Jemima West) enters The
Paradise seeking her mother, but the virgin is trapped by the scheming mistress
of the house, Madam Hortense Gaillac (Valérie Karsenti), as a way to revitalize
the brothel’s business. Hortense simultaneously makes it impossible for aging
prostitute Vera (Anne Charrier) to leave for a coveted position as mistress of
the wealthy Baron Du Plessis.
The is much the
situation that the women of The Paradise find themselves in; trapped by their
situation and unable to find a way to dig themselves out. Rose quickly realizes
that her only chance at escape is by becoming the best at what she does, and
seeks to use these skills to get out before her beauty fades. Much of the
series simply involves the day-to-day survival of these girls, as their lives
consist of little outside of The Paradise. Rose uses her unfortunate situation
to seek out answers about her mother, as well as planning her escape.
The first season includes eight hour-long
episodes. Although the second season already aired in 2013, I suppose we will
have to see how well this collection does before finding out if the rest will
also be given a Region 1 release. They seem to have an above-average level of
confidence in the show, releasing it on Blu-ray with a tasteful box set that
includes a collector’s booklet insert with production notes, photos,
interviews, and more. If only the marketing department weren’t trying to
convince consumers that this is a companion piece to the trash cinema based on the
trash novel that is 50 Shades of Grey.
This is a far more sophisticated piece of entertainment, and one that doesn’t
attempt to sensationalize the degradation of women.
Entertainment Value:
5.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 5/10
Special Features: 3/10
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