A 20-year-old Swedish girl (Sofia Kappel) shows up in Los Angeles, calls herself Bella Cherry and expresses a desire to be the best porn star in the world… but it’s a rocky road. In her feature film debut, director Ninja Thyberg expanded on a short she made in 2013; after extensive research in California’s porn community she created a uniquely realistic close-up look at a world of on-camera misogyny and degradation and off-camera mutual respect. Kappel is terrific in her first film, aided by actual porn stars, but a predictable, well-worn story diminishes the impact.
2021-Sweden-France-The Netherlands. 109 min. Color. Directed by Ninja Thyberg. Screenplay: Ninja Thyberg, Peter Modestij. Cast: Sofia Kappel (Linnéa/Bella Cherry), Revika Anne Reustle (Joy), Evelyn Claire (Ava Rhoades), Chris Cock, Dana DeArmond, Kendra Spade. Voice of Eva Melander.