Last Summer (2023 film) explained

Last Summer
Native Name:
Director:Catherine Breillat
Screenplay:
  • Catherine Breillat
Producer:Saïd Ben Saïd
Starring:
Cinematography:Jeanne Lapoirie
Editing:François Quiqueré[1]
Music:
Studio:SBS Productions
Distributor:
  • Pyramide Distribution
  • SBS Distribution
Runtime:104 minutes
Country:France
Language:French
Gross:$1.1 million[2]

Last Summer (French: '''L'Été dernier''') is a 2023 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.[3]

The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered on 25 May 2023. It was released in France on 13 September 2023. It received four nominations at the 49th César Awards.

Synopsis

Anne is a respected lawyer who lives in Paris with her husband Pierre and their two young daughters. Théo, Pierre's 17-year-old son from a previous marriage, moves in, and Anne eventually begins an affair with him. In doing so, she risks jeopardizing her career and losing her family. Théo is a fragile figure, and as time passes, the relationship turns destructive.[4]

Cast

Production

Last Summer is director Catherine Breillat's 15th feature film and her first film since her autobiographical drama Abuse of Weakness released ten years earlier.[5] The film is a remake of the 2019 Danish film Queen of Hearts, which was directed by May el-Toukhy, who co-wrote the film with Maren Louise Kaëhne.

Valeria Bruni Tedeschi was initially cast in role of Anne before being replaced by Léa Drucker.[6] [7] Samuel Kircher, the son of actors Irène Jacob and Jérôme Kircher, makes his film debut as the teenage stepson Théo.[8] [9] Samuel was recommended to Breillat by his brother Paul, who was originally scheduled to play the role.[10] In an interview given in early February 2023, Drucker said that Last Summer is "one of the most disturbing films" in which she has acted. The film poses the questions "Is it love? Where does love stop? Where does the transgression begin?" without being "moralistic". The film reminded Drucker of the play Blackbird by Scottish dramatist David Harrower, in which she has starred on stage. Blackbird tells the story of a young woman meeting a middle-aged man fifteen years after being sexually abused by him when she was twelve.

Filming took place from 7 June to 13 July 2022. Jeanne Lapoirie was the director of photography. The film was produced by Saïd Ben Saïd through his company SBS Productions.[11] According to director Catherine Breillat, the shooting took place "in a state of absolute grace". Breillat described herself as physically diminished and "afraid of not holding on", but said she rediscovered her love of filming during the production of Last Summer.

Release

Last Summer was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival,[12] where it had its world premiere on 25 May 2023.[13]

The film was theatrically released in France on 13 September 2023 by Pyramide Distribution.[14] Following screening at the 2023 New York Film Festival.[15] It was also invited at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in 'Icon' section and was screened on 6 October 2023.[16]

Reception

Critical response

On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 75 out of 100, based on 21 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[17] Last Summer received an average rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars on the French website AlloCiné, based on 35 reviews.[18]

Last Summer was ranked ninth on Cahiers du Cinémas top 10 films of 2023 list.[19]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)Result
César Awards23 February 2024Best DirectorCatherine Breillat[20]
[21]
Best ActressLéa Drucker
Best Male RevelationSamuel Kircher
Best AdaptationCatherine Breillat
Cannes Film Festival27 May 2023Palme d'OrCatherine Breillat
Louis Delluc Prize6 December 2023Best FilmLast Summer[22]
Lumières Award22 January 2024Best Film[23]
Best DirectorCatherine Breillat
Best ActressLéa Drucker
Best Male RevelationSamuel Kircher

Notes and References

  1. Web site: L'Été dernier. distrib.pyramidefilms.com. 17 April 2023. 17 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230617015632/http://distrib.pyramidefilms.com/pyramide-distribution-prochainement/l-ete-dernier.html. live.
  2. 14550346. Last Summer (2023). 19 August 2024. yes.
  3. Keslassy. Elsa. 11 January 2023. Pyramide Boards Catherine Breillat's Erotic Thriller 'Last Summer' Starring Léa Drucker (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. 17 April 2023. 18 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230418031907/https://variety.com/2023/film/global/catherine-breillat-pyramide-lea-drucker-1235485623/. live.
  4. Cénac. Lætitia. 26 January 2023. Léa Drucker : En étant mère à 42 ans, j'ai eu l'impression de commencer une nouvelle vie. Madame Figaro. fr. 18 April 2023. 24 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230924080429/https://madame.lefigaro.fr/celebrites/actu-people/lea-drucker-en-etant-mere-a-42-ans-j-ai-eu-l-impression-de-commencer-une-nouvelle-vie-20230126. live.
  5. News: 13 April 2023. Festival de Cannes 2023 : entre vétérans du 7ème art et nouveaux venus. TV5Monde. fr. AFP. 18 April 2023. 21 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230421233125/https://information.tv5monde.com/info/festival-de-cannes-2023-entre-veterans-du-7eme-art-et-nouveaux-venus-495109. live.
  6. Lucia. Thibault. 6 April 2021. [Exclu] Catherine Breillat signe un nouveau film avec Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi et Olivier Rabourdin]. Les Inrockuptibles. fr. 17 April 2023. 1 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230601221644/https://www.lesinrocks.com/cinema/exclu-catherine-breillat-signe-un-nouveau-film-avec-valeria-bruni-tedeschi-et-olivier-rabourdin-371069-06-04-2021/. live.
  7. News: Dandeu. Mathilde. 10 May 2022. Léa Drucker va jouer chez Catherine Breillat dans son prochain film. Jellyfish France. fr. Orange. 17 April 2023. 22 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230422095959/https://cinema-series.orange.fr/cinema/toutes-les-actus/lea-drucker-va-jouer-chez-catherine-breillat-dans-son-prochain-film-CNT000001MPMUN.html. live.
  8. Web site: Catherine Breillat Talks Taboo-Breaking Love Story Between Child Lawyer & Teenage Stepson In Cannes Film 'Last Summer': "She Is Not A Predator!". Goodfellow. Melanie. 26 May 2023. Deadline. 11 September 2023. 19 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231119155331/https://deadline.com/2023/09/danny-masterson-exchange-conan-obrien-sentencing-1235540210/. live.
  9. News: Klock. Marie. 26 May 2023. Samuel Kircher, des hauts et début. Libération. fr. 11 September 2023. subscription. 6 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230606163333/https://www.liberation.fr/culture/cinema/samuel-kircher-des-hauts-et-debut-20230526_26LU4XZNL5AIBJMSGDJZTWAV4Q/. live.
  10. Cooper-Hadjian. Olivia. 13 April 2023. Catherine Breillat : L'Été dernier. Cahiers du Cinéma. fr. 18 April 2023. 6 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231106163625/https://www.cahiersducinema.com/actualites/catherine-breillat-lete-dernier/. live.
  11. News: Lemercier. Fabien. 22 July 2022. Catherine Breillat's Last Summer is now in post-production. Cineuropa. 17 April 2023. 12 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230412111739/https://cineuropa.org/newsdetail/427837/. live.
  12. Web site: The films of the Official Selection 2023 . 18 April 2023 . Festival de Cannes . 13 April 2023 . en-US . 1 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230601041152/https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-releases/the-films-of-the-official-selection-2023/ . live .
  13. Web site: mraultpauillac . 10 May 2023 . The Screenings Guide of the 76th Festival de Cannes . 10 May 2023 . Festival de Cannes . en-US . 10 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510161350/https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/2023/the-screenings-guide-of-the-76th-festival-de-cannes/ . live .
  14. Web site: Quelles dates de sortie en salle pour les films sélectionnés à Cannes ? . . fr . 1 June 2023 . 5 June 2023 . 1 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230601063504/https://www.boxofficepro.fr/quelles-dates-de-sortie-en-salle-pour-les-films-selectionnes-a-cannes/ . live .
  15. Rubin. Rebecca. 8 August 2023. New York Film Festival Unveils 2023 Lineup: 'Zone of Interest,' 'Poor Things,' 'Anatomy of a Fall' and More. Variety. 12 August 2023. 3 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231003155210/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/new-york-film-festival-lineup-zone-of-interest-poor-things-1235689845/. live.
  16. Web site: The 28th Busan International Film Festival: Selection List. Busan International Film Festival. 5 September 2023. 11 September 2023. en. 15 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230915141852/https://www.biff.kr/eng/html/program/prog_all_list.asp?allYear=2023. live.
  17. last-summer-2023. movie. Last Summer. 14 July 2024.
  18. Web site: Critiques Presse pour le film L'Été dernier. AlloCiné. fr. 2 November 2023. 2 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231102223149/https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm-291612/critiques/presse/. live.
  19. Web site: Cahiers du Cinema Names Best Films of 2023, Including 'Anatomy of a Fall' and 'Close Your Eyes'. Zilko. Christian. 1 December 2023. IndieWire. 1 December 2023. 12 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231212032528/https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/cahiers-du-cinema-best-films-of-2023-list-1234931416/. live.
  20. Web site: Keslassy. Elsa. 24 January 2024. Cesar Awards Nominations: Thomas Cailley's 'The Animal Kingdom,' Justine Triet's Oscar-Nominated 'Anatomy of a Fall' Lead the Way. Variety. 24 January 2024. 24 January 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240124155244/https://variety.com/2024/film/global/cesar-awards-nominations-animal-kingdom-anatomy-of-a-fall-1235885601/. live.
  21. Web site: Roxborough. Scott. Szalai. Georg. 24 January 2024. Cesar Nominations: 'Anatomy of a Fall,' 'The Animal Kingdom' Lead the Pack for French Film Awards. The Hollywood Reporter. 24 January 2024. 24 January 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240124101732/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cesar-nominations-2024-awards-anatomy-of-a-fall-the-animal-kingdom-1235805751/. live.
  22. Vaz. Robin. 23 November 2023. Le prix Louis-Delluc 2023 dévoile ses présélections !. Les Inrockuptibles. fr. 13 December 2023. 13 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231213202834/https://www.lesinrocks.com/cinema/le-prix-louis-delluc-2023-devoile-ses-preselections-601936-23-11-2023/. live.
  23. Web site: Anatomie d'une chute domine les nominations pour les Lumières. Lemercier. Fabien. 14 December 2023. Cineuropa. fr. 14 December 2023. 14 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231214101204/https://cineuropa.org/fr/newsdetail/453708. live.

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