Maison Close: Season 2

I enjoyed both seasons of this series overall. I thought the period detail was fascinating, the performances and direction were excellent, and the characters were interesting. My complaint is that the series starts out as a glimpse into the inner workings of a 19th century brothel but quickly turns into a power struggle between various rivals for control of the house. The sex is replaced by violence, and the plots follow what is a predictable narrative convention. I would have preferred less power plays by outsiders and more interplay or rivalry or plotting among the girls. And more sex. Despite my complaints about the violence, it's hard to believe this is a French film. French films are typically boring and arty, with way too much navel-gazing and agonizing over the meaning of life. This change to films that you can actually watch all the way through is a change I hope to see the entire French film industry embrace. Maybe they'll even make films that turn a profit instead of relying on government subsidies to survive.

Season 2 flashes forward a bit to 1873, still in the early days of the French Third Republic, when many were glad to be rid of the monarchy, yet others pined for its reestablishment. Much to the chagrin of Hortense, Le Paradis is now run by its proletariat residents, but it doesn't take long before the bordello is caught between the vice squad and a small band of hoodlums, leading to such scenarios as a picnic becoming a bloodbath.Season 2 features a magnificent reprisal of Rose by Jemima West, who now ranges from feisty newly literate Marxist to withdrawn lovestruck drug addict. In reviewing Season 1, I stated that somehow Maison Close "doesn't leave you in a pool of misery"; the same cannot be said for Season 2. Yet despite the emphatic tragedy of it all, Maison Close is well worth watching in its entirety, rivaling the best of dramas about the disenfranchised.There was industry chatter in 2012 about HBO picking up Maison Close for a remake; I can only hope that it didn't happen and that such a series doesn't come to fruition. This show about a sliver of French history was meant to be produced by the French, and it was done so here without room for improvement.

Set in a brothel, which translates from Maison Close, this is a very well acted and believable portrayal of life in a brothel in Paris in the 19th Century. It is not sensationalistic or titillating. It does develop the characters Vera, Hortense and Rose quite deeply and makes many of the cast members seem quite realistic and believable. I found the chapters held my attention quite well and I was disappointed when the series came to an end. I had come to know the main characters quite well.

Enjoyed both seasons for different reasons. Season one leads us in with the story of Rose, and how women were enslaved by prostitition.Season two takes us into the dark workings of living and surviving in this world.

It is advertised as in English and French! Not in English and does not have English subtitles! No way to get my money back. Thanks Amazon

Great item, quick service, thanks.

Season 2 flashes forward a bit to 1873, still in the early days of the French Third Republic, when many were glad to be rid of the monarchy, yet others pined for its reestablishment. Much to the chagrin of Hortense, Le Paradis is now run by its proletariat residents, but it doesn't take long before the bordello is caught between the vice squad and a small band of hoodlums, leading to such scenarios as a picnic becoming a bloodbath.Season 2 features a magnificent reprisal of Rose by Jemima West, who now ranges from feisty newly literate Marxist to withdrawn lovestruck drug addict. In reviewing Season 1, I stated that somehow Maison Close "doesn't leave you in a pool of misery"; the same cannot be said for Season 2. Yet despite the emphatic tragedy of it all, Maison Close is well worth watching in its entirety, rivaling the best of dramas about the disenfranchised.There was industry chatter in 2012 about HBO picking up Maison Close for a remake; I can only hope that it didn't happen and that such a series doesn't come to fruition. This show about a sliver of French history was meant to be produced by the French, and it was done so here without room for improvement.

Season 2 flashes forward a bit to 1873, still in the early days of the French Third Republic, when many were glad to be rid of the monarchy, yet others pined for its reestablishment. Much to the chagrin of Hortense, Le Paradis is now run by its proletariat residents, but it doesn't take long before the bordello is caught between the vice squad and a small band of hoodlums, leading to such scenarios as a picnic becoming a bloodbath.Season 2 features a magnificent reprisal of Rose by Jemima West, who now ranges from feisty newly literate Marxist to withdrawn lovestruck drug addict. In reviewing Season 1, I stated that somehow Maison Close "doesn't leave you in a pool of misery"; the same cannot be said for Season 2. Yet despite the emphatic tragedy of it all, Maison Close is well worth watching in its entirety, as a sort of Downton Abbey with no holds barred.There was industry chatter in 2012 about HBO picking up Maison Close for a remake; I can only hope that it didn't happen and that such a series doesn't come to fruition. This show about a sliver of French history was meant to be produced by the French, and it was done so here without room for improvement.

Dans les maisons closes « haut de gamme » (Chabanais, Rue St Georges, 122…), il n’y avait jamais de scènes du style beuverie et orgie dans les salles de présentation des pensionnaires aux clients. Ceux-ci, d’ailleurs prenaient soin de s’éviter en utilisant des escaliers ou parcours différents dans la maison close. Titres et fonctions devaient rester secrets (futur roi, roi, maharadjah, écrivains, peintres …)Je conseille certains livres très bien documentés sur ce sujet en vente sur Amazon qui permettront de comprendre les très nombreuses erreurs de cette série très décevante.

Follows on from Series 1, but seems not QUITE as good as that first series. Acting is excellent, & costumes & sets are superb. Overall, very enjoyable.

cette seconde saison de Maison Close est à mon avis plombée par une réalisation qui frise le mauvais goût: qu'est ce que c'est que cette B.O. totalement décalée? le scénario devient confus et on se pert un peu. moralité: les épisodes sont difficiles à suivre car pas passionnants du tout. dommage, cette série est finalement un soufflé qui retombe.

Surprenante série on veut toujours savoir la suite. Le jeu des acteurs y est parfait. Une série à ne pas louper. Parfois un peu sombre mais réaliste (enfin je crois) de ces temps éloignés.

Plutôt pas mal pour une suite