Synopsis
The 1972 drama movie Last Tango in Paris, directed by Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci, deals with the notions of emotional detachment, identity, and human relationships. As the story unfolds in the serene, foggy Paris, it revolves around two strangers, an American man, Paul, who is middle-aged, and a young Parisian woman, Jeanne, who happen to meet when both are considering the same apartment for rent.
Paul is an unusually thick-skinned man who is still trying to come to terms with the recent death of his wife. He is emotionally shuttered, burdensome, and in search of refuge from the emotional weight of the world around him. Jeanne, on the other hand, is vibrant and full of youthful exuberance. She is preparing for a new chapter in her life and is already engaged to a promising young filmmaker.
Unlimited and devoid of expectations and roles of their lives, the two create an unusual bond. They start spending time in the apartment, spending time without names and personal history, and for Paul, the bond is the only opportunities he can let his sorrow run without the expectation of being judged or pitied. For Jeanne, it is a brief respite from a life full of order and discipline awaiting her.
Their distinct realities, however, begin to encroach upon their self-imposed isolation. For example, Jeanne finds herself needing to fulfill her social and personal obligations, while Paul begins to look for something more than the emotional refuge they had formed. The story peaks in the conflict between the two extremes of emotional truth and detachment, where both characters confront the question of how much of themselves they are willing to bare.
Cast and Crew
The two prominent stills from the movie are centred around the following two performances pairs.
Marlon Brando as Paul: Brando, a celebrated actor of his age, gave his best in the performance as Paul. He is portrayed as a man between two worlds: the memory of a past life and the present. Brando captures the inner anguish of a man striving for advancement yet lacks understanding of the path. His performance has an understated approach to emotion rather than theatricality, making it one of the more inward-focused roles during his career.
Maria Schneider as Jeanne: As Jeanne, Schneider paints a captivating image of a younger version of women in the modern world. Jeanne is a character inspired by women interests, determined, yet still not austere, ever searching for certainty in her life to balance. Paul’s dark brooding persona is tempered by her energy, which adds depth to the character’s relationships.
In the film, Tom represents Jeanne’s fiance, who echoes the conventional views of marriage and life visions. He provides a glimpse of Jeanne’s existence beyond the apartment and embodies a part of the life she has to grapple with.
“Last Tango in Paris” shows Bernardo Bertolucci’s delicate and lyrical direction. Often exploring the depths of human feelings, Bertolucci is more action averse and more atmosphere and emotion driven, and he blends these thoughts into the stories he systematically co-writes. He is known for integrating psychological elements with muted action and dialogue, and in this film, conveying an important part of the meaning with visuals and silence, which is done masterfully.
The film’s signature visual tone is created by the celebrated cinematographer, Vittorio Storaro. Natural light, the gentle interplay of shadows, and the use of emptiness captures the meditative tone of the film. Rather than the Paris of charm and verve, the city’s portrayal here as a city of quiet streets and deserted rooms extends the characters’ feelings.
Stooping to the film’s level, Gato Barbieri’s as the composer does not disappoint for the film’s music. With a saxophone driven score, Barbieri injects warmth and melancholy into the film in the form of subtle yet emotion filled background music. Like every other film, this one has an important air to the film, and Barbieri makes sure it is done right.
IMDb Ratings
Currently Last Tango in Paris has an IMDb rating of 6.9/10. This film may not be universally acclaimed, but its place in the cinema industry is undeniable due to the risks it took artistically and in regard to its narrative. It is lauded for its daring interpretations of emotions and the raw depiction of grief, identity, and the yearning to escape social constructs.
Release critics were torn; some considered the film a modern cinematic gem while for others, its narrative structure was confusing. With time, the film has been accepted as a landmark throughout the years, and has earned respect for its impact, especially regarding 1970s world cinema. During this period, filmmakers were searching for unconventional methods to tell stories.
Particularly, the criticism singled out Marlon Brando’s performance as profound and specific. It is regarded as one of the most courageous and emotionally vulnerable roles of his career. His performance in the film garnered nominations and sparked conversations among critics and scholars of cinema.
Legacy
Last Tango in Paris continues to influence cinema decades after its release. Its exploration of loss, emotional disconnection, and the yearning for meaningful human relationships is universally relevant. The film serves as an inspiration for many as it showcases the ways in which films can delve into the psyche in ways literature and theater sometimes cannot do.
This film was released during an era when filmmakers were given more freedom to break from conventional narratives and linear plots. Bertolucci’s focus on mood, silence, and the underlying psychological intricacies of human relations marked an era where other filmmakers began to embrace creative freedom. The film’s introspective tone and sparse, understated dialogue set the benchmark for a distinctive era in American and European cinema.
The use of a single setting, the apartment, adds a theatrical, intimate quality to the film which reflects the protagonists’ alienation from the external world. The film’s emotional, visual, and musical elements deepen its thought-provoking nature and, in conjunction with the profound performances, create a richly layered experience.
Through a historical lens, the film serves as an important milestone in the professional journeys of its main participants. For Brando, the film signaled a return to intensely personal, multifaceted roles. For Bertolucci, it established his notoriety as a director willing to explore the psyche of his adult characters in a profound way.
While the film’s thematic content and stylistic choices may not appeal to everyone, the film’s raw emotionality and its creative ambition give it a lasting reputation. It continues to appear in film studies syllabi and remains a source of controversy and discussion for critics, students, and film enthusiasts.
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