Home for the Holidays

Diana (Julia Ann) and Juliette (Vanna Bardot) both need a break. Diana is dying of boredom and desperate to escape the monotony of her life as a middle school art teacher, while Juliette is coming to terms with her husband’s out-of-nowhere divorce bombshell. They end up on a house-swap for Christmas vacation, and before long, they find themselves experiencing life from a different perspective and gaining a different perspective themselves.

Casey Calvert returns to Lust Cinema to direct this heartwarming, Christmas-themed film. I have always liked Casey Calvert as a performer, but I’ve grown to like her just as much as a writer and director. This movie could totally be a Hallmark Christmas film; it’s got all the elements. The story centers around two women who are both struggling with the direction of their lives, and the holiday season is the perfect opportunity for them to grow and embrace their inner selves. Of course, unlike Hallmark movies, this film incorporates scintillating sex scenes into the story. Calvert assembles a powerful cast that includes Bardot and Whitney Wright in what could be the most emotionally moving performances of their careers, while industry icon Julia Ann anchors the film with her sincerity and believability. This isn’t a straight drama, though; Vanna shows off some impressive comedy chops in this feature as well.

On top of the spectacular acting performances and gorgeous set pieces, the sex is wonderful, if a bit sparse. There are only two scenes in the film, but both are wonderfully immersive thanks in part to the spectacular talent involved and partly because of the narrative build to each scene. Juliette gets a lesson in humility and self-worth from Serena (April Olsen) and Daniel (Dillon Diaz) that opens her up to new possibilities. That openness leads to a thrilling three-way between them that is really great. I have to commend April Olsen here. It’s the first time I’ve seen her in a feature film, and I feel confident calling her a budding star. She is confident in her role and brings a real sense of eye-opening freedom to Juliette’s story. Dillon Diaz is a perfect partner for her, and together, they show Juliette a path to happiness that she’d forgotten even existed.

Juliette feels like a woman shedding the shackles of her hollow existence for a moment of clarity and unfiltered life, and her story plays out through her sex. She’s surprised by every moment of pleasure she experiences in the arms of April and Dillon while simultaneously watching and emulating the way April embraces the pleasure of the moment without shame. Sexually, April is a master siren. She rides Dillon deliciously as Vanna looks on while rubbing her own pussy, then Vanna takes her place and mimics April’s mastery. It’s fucking hot.

Meanwhile, Diana finds herself matching self-reflective wits with Juliette’s sister Maggie (Whitney Wright), and ultimately, Diana realizes what’s been holding her back for all these years. Her story of unrequited love reaches an incredibly satisfying climax under Maggie’s easy guidance, and their coupling is more than sex — it’s borderline lovemaking. Sure, the lesbian exploratory fantasy is in play (and hot), but there’s a sexual acceptance from Diana that elevates the sex to something more than simple smut. It’s beautiful.

This is a great film that showcases the strength of the product coming from Calvert and Lust Cinema. As long as this version of Lust Cinema exists, feature porn will continue to thrive.