Les grandes jouisseuses (1978), directed by Claude Bernard-Aubert, is an erotic journey into the fantastical and explicit dreamscapes of its protagonist, Pierre.
The film opens with Pierre, played by Jean-Louis Vattier, living a mundane life with his wife, Janine (Monique Ciron). Pierre's mind, however, is anything but ordinary, as he frequently escapes into sexual fantasies about his neighbor, Marianne (Brigitte Lahaie). These fantasies are creative, intense, and often involve other characters, including Marianne's maid (Marie-Dominique Cabanne) and a psychiatrist, Madame Gabrielle Dullan (Amanda).
As the film progresses, we see Pierre's wife become concerned about his obsession and take action. She arranges for him to see a sex therapist, hoping it will help their struggling marriage. This is where the fun begins, as the therapist, an older but sexually liberated woman, allows Pierre to indulge in his fantasies while she records them on her seventies cassette player.
The therapy sessions provide a framework for Pierre's fantasies to unfold, and the viewer is treated to a variety of creative and explicit scenarios.
However, the film is not without its shortcomings. The editing is sometimes sloppy, with abrupt transitions between scenes, and the writing feels lazy at times, relying heavily on the sexual content rather than developing the characters or narrative arc.
In conclusion, Les grandes jouisseuses is a film that embraces the fantastical nature of sexual desire and explores the power of erotic dreams. While the plot and character development may be lacking, the film delivers on creative and explicit sexual fantasies that will appeal to viewers seeking an escape into a world of uninhibited pleasure.
