Last Summer is the story of a forbidden love, that of a forty-year-old lawyer (who notably defends minor victims of abuse) with her 17-year-old stepson. Breillat films bodies intertwining, skin blushing with incredible intensity. She offers one of the most disturbing and Machiavellian portraits of a woman we have seen in a long time, driven by her desire but refusing to pay anything in the name of it.
The filmmaker ventures into a taboo subject without seeking to apologize for it or to balance points of view. It bristles, it disappoints, it creates permanent discomfort and is not necessarily pleasant to live with. But it also impresses, like the masterful interpretations of Léa Drucker and the beginner Samuel Kircher (Paul’s younger brother, revealed by Le Lycéen). A winning return.
Last Summer (French: L’Été Dernier) is a French erotic drama film directed by Catherine Breillat, from a screenplay written by Breillat in collaboration with Pascal Bonitzer. It is a remake of the 2019 Danish film Queen of Hearts. Starring Léa Drucker and Samuel Kircher, the film explores the taboos of a stepmother–stepson relationship.
The film was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered on May 25, 2023. It was released in France on September 13, 2023. The film was theatrically released in France on September 13, 2023 by Pyramide Distribution. Following screening at the 2023 New York Film Festival. It was also invited at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in ‘Icon’ section and was screened on 6 October 2023. It received four nominations at the 49th César Awards.
Last Summer (2024)
L’Été Dernier
Directed by: Catherine Breillat
Starring: Léa Drucker, Olivier Rabourdin, Samuel Kircher, Clotilde Courau, Serena Hu, Angela Chen, Romain Maricau, Romane Violeau, Marie Lucas, Nelia, Lila-Rose Gilberti, Marie Lebey
Screenplay by: Catherine Breillat, Pascal Bonitzer
Production Design by: Sébastien Danos
Cinematography by: Jeanne Lapoirie
Film Editing by: François Quiqueré
Costume Design by: Constance Allain, Khadija Zeggaï
Art Direction by: Stéphane Capdecomme, Lena Desvigne
Music by: Kim Gordon, Body/Head
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Pyramide Distribution, SBS Distribution, Sideshow Releasing
Release Date: May 25, 2023 (Cannes), September 13, 2023 (France), June 28, 2024 (United States)
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