...engaging and discerning culture, as a way of life...

February 03, 2006

Last Tango in Paris - 5

This film was written and directed by Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci. The film is about the loneliness of existence. The story involves Paul, played by Marlon Brando (who surprised me with his ability to speak French), and Jeanne who have a nameless affair in a vacant apartment. Paul is trying to deal with his wife's suicide, while Jeanne longs for human contact and is weary of her boyfriends attempts to make a reality show out of her life (remember this film was made in 1973). Early on there is a lot of dialogue about fear and death, and struggling with the meaning of life that these question involve. In the end, they realize that pain must be shared to be validated and to be able to really live. I don't want to give away the ending but life complexities overwhelm them (no Disney ending here, in fact it's noirish). A small warning that this film has some disturbing sexual content which is why it has been rated NC-17.

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