| Genre: | Period drama |
| Creator: | Jacques Ouaniche |
| Developer: | Mabrouk El Mechri |
| Creative Director: | Paulo Routier |
| Starring: | Anne CharrierValérie KarsentiJemima WestCatherine HosmalinClémence BretécherDeborah GrallBlandine Bellavoir |
| Composer: | Gast WaltzingAlain Pewzner |
| Country: | France |
| Language: | French |
| Num Series: | 2 |
| Num Episodes: | 16 |
| Producer: | Jacques OuanicheGrégory OuanicheAdrian PolitowskiGilles Waterkeyn |
| Editor: | Kako Kelber |
| Location: | Lisbon (Portugal) |
| Cinematography: | Pierre-Yves Bastard |
| Runtime: | 52-55 minutes (season 1)45-53 minutes (season 2) |
| Company: | Noé ProductionsCanal+ |
| Channel: | Canal+ |
Maison Close is a French television series which premiered on Canal+ on October 4, 2010. The series was developed by Mabrouk El Mechri and is based on a concept created by Jacques Ouaniche. It is a drama set in a nineteenth-century Parisian brothel.
On December 7, 2010, Canal + renewed Maison Close for a second season which premiered on February 4, 2013. But in May 2013, the series had been cancelled by Canal+ after the second season, following a decline in ratings.
Paris, 1871. In Le Paradis, a luxury brothel, three women try to escape from their troublesome circumstances. Vera is 35 years old, the end of her career as a prostitute drawing nearer. She puts all her hopes on her main client, the only one rich enough to redeem her debt. Hortense is the madam of Le Paradis. She must hold on to her girls whilst dealing with an extortionist from the Parisian suburbs. Rose arrives in search of her mother, a former prostitute. She is trapped with a pimp and forcibly conscripted into Le Paradis.
The first season premiered on Canal+ on October 4, 2010. The season finale aired on October 25, 2010.
The second season premiered on Canal+ on February 4, 2013. The season finale aired on February 25, 2013.
Jacques Ouaniche imagined the series in 2007, taking as a starting point a "trapped young girl forced to prostitute in a nineteenth century Parisian brothel".[1]
Production of the first season began on October, 2009 and ended on January, 2010 in Lisbon, Portugal.[2]
On December 7, 2010, Canal + renewed Maison Close for a second season to consist of 8 episodes. Production of the second season began on January, 2012 and ended on May, 2012 in Lisbon, Portugal.[3]
In May 2013, the series had been cancelled by Canal+ after the second season, following a decline in ratings.[4]
On November 9, 2012, it was revealed that an English-language adaptation was in development and that HBO and Mark Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson's Leverage would develop the project. The remake should be identical to the original version except for the cast and the language.[5] Although the project has not been canceled, HBO no longer communicates about it since the announcement.