Pleasure Factory

Revolving around the interactions ofprostitutes and their customers in the redlight district of Singapore, “Pleasure Factory”handles its difficult subject without succumbingto simplifications. Subdued narration, in favorof a documentary feel and improvised episodes,raises questions about the mechanismsof commerce, dehumanization and lackof responsibility – and refuses to resort tocaricaturing johns as simple villains. Althoughthe portrayal of sex is frank, the camera lingersless on the flesh than on the faces of women whohad to push aside their dreams for better livesa long time ago. When the toughest prostitute,“mama-san”, breaks into tears while listeningto the lyrics of a sentimental love song: “myaffection doesn’t change, my love doesn’t fade”,it is as painstakingly obvious for the audience as it is for her that these words will never cometrue. The myth of the happy hooker is nowhere tobe seen in this slow-paced and demure dramaabout vulnerable people trying to find a sense ofworth in a world that gives them none.

Premiere Status
Swedish Premiere: Orig. title
Kuaile Gongchang: Cast
Yang Kuei-Mei, Ananda Everingham, Zihan Loo, Isabella Chen: Producer
Ekachai Uekrongtham: Script
Ekachai Uekrongtham: Cinematography
Brian Gothong Tan: Music
Bruno Brugnano: Spoken language
Mandarin