Maison Close
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | October 4, 2010 |
| Founder | Mabrouk El Mechri (creator), Jacques Ouaniche (original idea) |
| Headquarters | France |
Area served | France |
| Products | Television drama series |
Maison Close is a French television series that debuted on Canal+ on October 4, 2010. Created by Mabrouk El Mechri based on an original idea by Jacques Ouaniche, the drama unfolds within a nineteenth-century Parisian brothel.
On December 7, 2010, Canal+ confirmed a second season of Maison Close, which was broadcast starting February 4, 2013. Despite this renewal, the show was discontinued in May 2013 following the conclusion of its second season, attributed to a drop in viewership.
Premise
Set in Paris in 1871, Le Paradis is an upscale brothel where three women strive to break free from their difficult circumstances. Vera, aged 35 and nearing retirement from prostitution, relies on her wealthiest patron to settle her debts. Hortense, the madam overseeing Le Paradis, fights to safeguard her workers while contending with an extortionist from the outskirts of the city. Rose arrives seeking her mother, a former prostitute, but becomes ensnared and coerced into working at Le Paradis by a pimp.
Main
- Anne Charrier portrays Véra
- Valérie Karsenti as Hortense Gaillac
- Jemima West as Rosalie "Rose" Tranier
- Catherine Hosmalin plays Marguerite Fourchon
- Clémence Bretécher as Valentine
- Deborah Grall as Bertha
- Blandine Bellavoir as Angèle
- Nicolas Briançon as Pierre Gaillac (season 1)
- Michaël Cohen as Louis Mosca (season 2)
Recurring
- Dany Verissimo appears as Camélia
- Sébastien Libessart plays Torcy
- Season 1
- Dan Herzberg as Gaston Lupin
- Serge Dupuy in the role of Brice Caboche
- Lannick Gautry as Edgar
- Arnaud Binard portrays Francis Arnoult
- Antoine Chappey as Charles Blondin
- Garlan Le Martelot plays Edmond Blondin
- Juana Pereira da Silva as Louison "Louise"
- Olivier Claverie portrays senator Gaudissart
- Quentin Baillot as baron du Plessis
- Pierre Casadei in the role of the general
- Season 2
- Fatou N'Diaye appears as Pauline
- Martin Loizillon plays Bak
- Lubna Gourion as Jeanne
- Michaël Abiteboul portrays Kertel
- Jean-Marie Frin as commissioner Angélus
- Aurélien Wiik plays the doctor
- Susana Blazer as Zoe
- David Salles in the role of Paul
- Elmano Sancho portrays Delvaux
- Sophie-Charlotte Husson as Joséphine
- Francis Seleck plays Bayle
- Sylvain Rougerie as Lubeck
- Afonso Lagarto portrays Themier le Borgne
Season 1 (2010)
The initial season aired on Canal+ beginning October 4, 2010, and wrapped up on October 25, 2010.
- Épisode 1
- Épisode 2
- Épisode 3
- Épisode 4
- Épisode 5
- Épisode 6
- Épisode 7
- Épisode 8
Season 2 (2013)
The second installment was broadcast from February 4 through February 25, 2013, on Canal+.
- Épisode 1
- Épisode 2
- Épisode 3
- Épisode 4
- Épisode 5
- Épisode 6
- Épisode 7
- Épisode 8
Production and development
The concept for the series originated with Jacques Ouaniche in 2007, centering on a young woman confined within a Parisian brothel during the nineteenth century.
Filming for season one took place from October 2009 until January 2010 in Lisbon, Portugal. Following its success, Canal+ commissioned an eight-episode second season on December 7, 2010. Production for this season occurred between January and May of 2012, also filmed in Lisbon.
Due to diminishing audience numbers, Canal+ decided to cancel the series after two seasons in May 2013.
Home media release
- In France, the first season became available on DVD on October 26, 2010, followed by a Blu-ray release on March 1, 2013. Both DVD and Blu-ray editions of the second season were issued simultaneously on March 1, 2013. The entire series was subsequently released on DVD and Blu-ray starting October 9, 2013.
- The United Kingdom saw the debut of the first season on DVD and Blu-ray on September 3, 2012, with the second season arriving on August 19, 2013, across both formats.
- For the United States market, the initial season's DVD and Blu-ray versions were launched on January 27, 2015, while the second season followed with releases on June 16, 2015.
Adaptations
On November 9, 2012, HBO revealed plans to produce an English-language version in partnership with Mark Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson's production company Leverage. This adaptation aimed to stay faithful to the original series, differing primarily in language and casting choices. Although not officially discontinued, HBO has since remained silent regarding further developments of this project.