Quills 2000 -

Set in 1807 France, the film takes place almost entirely within the walls of Charenton, an insane asylum. The infamous aristocrat, writer, and philosopher the Marquis de Sade (Geoffrey Rush) has been imprisoned there for his pornographic and blasphemous writings.

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★★★★☆ (One star deducted because you’ll need a shower afterward.) Set in 1807 France, the film takes place

The central conflict of Quills is the debate over whether art should be censored. Sade argues that thoughts, however dark, must be expressed to prevent them from festering into violence. Royer-Collard argues that words are dangerous and can infect society. The film asks: Does art cause violence, or does the suppression of art cause violence? Next week: Why Fight Club is actually a romantic comedy