Disturbing in parts but nonetheless, this look into a turn of the century brothel has compelling gals who perform the same tasks but are from so many diverse and interesting backgrounds.

When making a movie that argues against prostitution, it is best not to make it sound like every other dreary profession which was the central problem with Lizzie Borden's "Working Girls." Also set in an upscale brothel, "House of Pleasure," which successfully turns glossy sexiness on itself, takes a more imaginative path, especially in the way it plays with time with a neat use of anachronistic music(but then "Nights of White Satin" does not really sound like a 60's song, either), repetitive dialogue and images to give the feel that time is not flowing as it should inside where it is 1899-1900 Paris. When one of the women remarks that it has been forever since they had a free day, it may be literally true. So, that as hard as the women may work, they probably will never be able to settle their debts with the Madame(Noemie Lvovsky). But that's not the worst of it, as the brothel is a place where you can only separate the sex from the medical exams by the correct invoice. So while the women have a certain freedom without their corsets, it does not apply to their movements as they forced into degrading positions like Lea(Adele Haenel) who acts like a doll. And that's not counting what happens to Madeleine(Alice Barnole) which leaves an opening that Pauline(Iliana Zabeth), who is not quite 16, applies for. And Julie's(Jasmine Trinca) nickname is Caca, so use your imagination. In fact, a lot of the women are known by nicknames which are degrading in and of themselves.