Mature, thoughtful, loving and emotionally open. To many women, that describes the perfect man—but it’s a fantasy that’s in short supply in your stereotypical adult movie. That’s one reason why Kay Brandt’s Safe Landings is that rarity: an erotic movie that would be completely at home in even the softest couples-oriented adult boutique.

Women’s desires are front and center here. In the opening moments we meet the main character, Elaine (Brenda James), fully engaged in a long, slow and sensual coupling with her husband, Ryan (Marcus London). In the morning Ryan heads off for a business trip while Elaine stays at home—a flight attendant on layover who’s made some very special plans with members of her crew. As she lights candles in black lingerie, the doorbell rings; it’s the pilot, Michael (Ryan McLane). Waiting for him in the bedroom is a little surprise: pretty young attendant Tessa (Alison Rey). They make a sweet threesome, with Tessa clearly excited by the attention from both Michael and Elaine, and she in turn invigorates the more seasoned lovers.

All too soon it’s back to work—a routine flight that ends in disaster. As a survivor, Elaine finds herself debilitated by potent emotions, and she’s not alone. Another surviving passenger, Jessica (August Ames), is having trouble coping as well. Her partner, Steven (Xander Corvus), is every bit as understanding as Elaine’s man, and he pushes her to attend a survivors’ support group. The two women meet and find not only emotional solace but also an intense sexual connection.

Both James and Ames do a superb job of creating a sense of character just as much through the way they fuck as the way they read lines. Confident and aggressive, Elaine seduces the tentative Jessica in their first liaison. The second time they meet, though, Elaine reveals her vulnerability when Jessica pulls away, too conflicted to give in to temptation.

Also doing good work revealing their own vulnerabilities are London and Corvus. Though women are at the center of Safe Landings, their characters are a key part of making the movie a satisfying fantasy.

Satisfying, too, is the overall quality of the production and the generous extras. In addition to good cinematography and sound and rich variety in the sex scenes, the two-disc set includes audition footage, behind-the-scenes interviews, trailers, photo galleries and two bonus scenes (Julia Ann and Tyler Nixon in Love Anonymous and Scarlet Red and Tommy Pistol in Master Bedroom). And finally, there’s a free chapter download from Brandt’s novel Safe Landings, on which the movie is based.