Liselle Bailey returns to the Dorcel label, after an absence coinciding with the Covid-19 scourge, and directs superstar Clea Gaultier in a great role.
She plays a convict just out of jail, who returns to her old haunts after six years in stir and finds everyone has moved on in her absence: she's standing still while the world turns.
The sexual adventures she has or witnesses make up the bulk of the movie, but it is Clea's nuanced, subtle performance that is memorable. Without resorting to gimmicky pathos, we see her quiet despair, but of course she still looks like a million bucks (or Euros, now that the exchange rate is about 1:1) and is a treat humping away for her fans. Strong supporting cast includes Anissa Kate and Cherry Kiss - a real treat.
As before, especially in her unheralded (so far) classic Ella Hughes movie "L'obsédée", Liselle emphasizes little details and builds a characterization without relying on tons of dialogue. (Her approach reminds me of Agnes Varda's classic New Wave movie "Cleo from 5 to 7"). Clea, through her subtle facial expressions and strong body movements (notably at fadeout when she strides along forcefully, bravely facing her future) demonstrates acting prowess way beyond the taken-for-granted sexual prowess of a porn artiste.
