Quills (2000)

This is a solid movie based on a true story. During the early 1800s, the Marquis de Sade (Geoffrey Rush) is confined to Charenton, an asylum for the insane, because of his erratic behavior and sexual fetishes. His wife comes to visit occasionally, but he is rude and dismissive towards her. Abbe Coulmier (Joaquin Phoenix) monitors his behavior and allows him several luxuries. The writer befriends a maid (Kate Winslet) and convinces her to sneak his writings outside so they can be published. When his erotic novels start to gain notoriety, doctor Royer-Collard (Michael Caine) is brought in to punish him.

The film was shot in England, rather than France. Phoenix was allowed to wear artificial leather for his costume because of his strict vegan diet. Marquis de Sade was born in 1740 and died in 1814. He spent almost half of his life confined to a few prisons and an asylum. Most of his works were done while he was incarcerated. The term 'sadism' refers to his name. In the film, Madeleine remains a virgin, but in reality she was only 13-years-old when the Sade started having a sexual affair with her.