It really is extreme. We didn't intend to do a biopic of the Marquis de Sade. He is trying to create a world where art and beauty can flourish, where mental illness can be healed through creative outlets. But then things take a darker turn and you think there is something dangerous about incendiary literature. Art is potent.
Art can be dangerous.
This is particularly relevant with debates raging over federal censorship of Hollywood. It's much more gripping than the actual graphic representation. Some people feel the film becomes too dark at the end, but I feel it's rather optimistic. He knows he can be a writer. He's obsessed with writing and he wants a quill.