Le retour des veuves

Sequel to VEUVES EN CHALEUR. So... It's obligatory less good than the first one and a little bit boring and not very exciting in fact!

But the beautiful Lahaie did it again. Horny as possible, her scene steal the movie entirely. Just watch it if you're a fan of the beautiful actress... Nonetheless only if you're nothing else to do...

"Le retour des veuves" (1980), directed by Claude Bernard-Aubert, is a film that promises much but delivers less. Despite its intriguing premise and the presence of some of the era's most notable adult film stars, the film falls short of expectations.

The film's narrative revolves around a group of widows who, after their husbands' deaths, find solace in a shared villa where they indulge in sexual liberties. The plot, while provocative, lacks depth and often feels like a mere pretext for the film's numerous erotic scenes.

However, one performance that stands out is that of Brigitte Lahaie. Her scenes, including the one where she is involved in a doggy-style encounter and another where she engages in oral sex, are shot with an erotic intensity that is hard to ignore. Lahaie's performance is easily the film's high point, offering viewers a treat amidst the otherwise lackluster narrative.

Claude Bernard-Aubert's direction is adequate but uninspired. The film's pacing is uneven, and the transitions between scenes often feel abrupt. The cinematography, while capturing the eroticism effectively, fails to create a compelling visual narrative.

In conclusion, "Le retour des veuves" is a film that relies heavily on its erotic scenes to carry the narrative. While it does offer some memorable moments, courtesy of Brigitte Lahaie, it falls short in terms of storytelling and direction. If you're a fan of Lahaie or 1980s erotic cinema, this film might hold some appeal. Otherwise, it's a mediocre watch at best.

The original VEUVES EN CHALEUR was a bona fide box office bonanza in its native France but in fact far from an outstanding achievement in the porn field, pretty much average for director Claude-Bernard Aubert aka "Burd Tranbaree", Mr Middle of the Road himself. It never strayed beyond its initial gimmick of having an opportunistic youth (the somewhat irritating Charlie Schreiner) use the newspaper obituaries as a source for sex-starved widows.

At least the sequel throws in a genuinely offbeat idea or two and has two considerably more appealing male leads in Jean-Pierre Armand (looking ridiculously fresh-faced with an ill-advised perm) and Gregory, actually future fornication filmmaker Gérard Gregory who made a couple of seriously sexy sleepers worthy of rediscovery such as ADOLESCENTES AU PENSIONNAT and L'EDUCATRICE. The story's basically identical to the first flick with the added twist of having the widows frequently outsmarting their 'predators' plus an enigmatic third (female) lead, post mistress and part-time chambermaid (don't ask, it almost makes sense...) Madeleine, portrayed by the radiant Elisabeth Buret (unforgettable in Claude Bernard-Aubert's DROIT DE CUISSAGE), the real star of this film, despite it being hyped as another Brigitte Lahaye vehicle. While mega star Brigitte's back to back gropes are excellent value indeed, it's the final sequence involving both males, Buret and lovely US superstar Serena mixing Aubert's twin erotic obsessions (widows and newly weds) that elevate this charming little trifle to near classic status.