House of Tolerance

House of Tolerance (original title: L'Apollonide: Souvenirs de la maison close) is a 2011 French drama written and directed by Bertrand Bonello. Set in a Parisian brothel at the end of the nineteenth century, the film portrays the shared lives of twelve prostitutes living in confinement. Rather than following a developed plot, it unfolds through loosely self-contained episodes, evoking the women's rivalries, hopes and fears within the brothel's claustrophobic walls; all but one scene take place inside the house.

Starring Hafsia Herzi, Céline Sallette, Jasmine Trinca, Adèle Haenel, Alice Barnole, Iliana Zabeth and Noémie Lvovsky, the film premiered in the Competition section of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. It received eight César nominations and won the award for Best Costume Design. Shot by cinematographer Josée Deshaies, it was praised for a lush visual style that draws on the tradition of French painting.