The Last Ashes Explained

The Last Ashes
Native Name:
Translation:Body and Soul
Director:Loïc Tanson
Producer:Claude Waringo
Music:When 'Airy Met Fairy
Cinematography:Nikos Welter
Editing:Loïc Tanson
Runtime:120 minutes
Country:Luxembourg

The Last Ashes (Luxembourgish; Letzeburgesch: Läif a Séil) is a 2023 Luxembourgish Western drama film directed by Loïc Tanson in his directorial debut. Starring Sophie Mousel, it follows Hélène, who returns to her native village under a new identity. Looking for revenge and ready to do anything to destroy the Graff family.[1] The film was premiered at the 56th Sitges Film Festival on 9 October 2023 and subsequently released in Luxembourg on 25 October.

It was selected as the Luxembourgish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards[2] [3] On December 7, it appeared in the eligible list for consideration for the 2024 Oscars,[4] but, it didn't make it to the shortlist.[5]

Synopsis

This is a contemporary western drama with female leads, taking place in Luxembourg in 1854.

Hélène comes back to her home village taking new identity to take revenge from the Graff family. Graff family is ruling over her community with an iron fist. She is furious to see how her relatives and neighbors are oppressed by the cruel and powerful lords. She plans a revenge against the elitist and authoritarian family to destroy them, alone.

Cast

Production

In 2019, Film Fund Luxembourg contributed 30,000 for project development.[6] In 2020, Film Fund Luxembourg contributed 30,000 taking the contribution to 2.8 million of the total budget, which was estimated at 3,947,432.[7] [8] [9]

Filming began on 25 April 2022 and completed on 25 June mainly near the Eyneburg castle in Hergenrath in the municipality of Kelmis, Belgium.[10] On 7 June 2022, behind the scenes of filming were revealed.[11]

Release

The Last Ashes was selected in Noves Visions section of the 56th Sitges Film Festival and screened on 9 October 2023 in Sitges, Catalonia, Spain.[12] [13]

Reception

Duncan Roberts writing in Luxembourg Times praised Loïc Tanson and Frédéric Zeimet for researching the "old Luxembourgish to create dialogue with accents and vocabulary that may have been used in the 1880s". Roberts also praised production designer Christina Schaffer "for creating a suitably grim ambience"; and costume designer Magdalena Labuz for meticulous costumes; and duo of When Airy Met Fairy (Thorunn Egilsdottir and Mike Koster) for the "haunting music". Roberts was critical of editing of Tanson. Concluding he wrote, "The Last Ashes is a well-executed epic of the kind all too rarely made in Luxembourg." He added, "It is a gripping and gritty story - there are scenes of violence that will cause more sensitive viewers to reel in horror - that delves into a period of Luxembourg history also seldom explored."[14]

The film is selected as Luxembourg entry for nominations in 38th edition of Goya Award for Best European Film competing with other nine selections from 9 European countries. The 38th Goya Awards will take place on 10 February 2024 at Valladolid, Spain.[15]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Last Ashes . Loïc . Tanson . 27 October 2022. 29 October 2023 . Cineuropa . en.
  2. Web site: Luxembourg selects pick for Oscars race. 15 September 2023 . 29 October 2023 . Luxembourg-times-online . en.
  3. Web site: European titles submitted for the Oscars race . 17 October 2023. 29 October 2023 . . en.
  4. News: Academy Announces 288 Eligible Titles for Animated, Documentary and International Feature Oscar Races . Clayton Davis . . December 7, 2023 . December 7, 2023 . en.
  5. Web site: 96th Oscars Shortlists Announced for 10 Categories . 21 December 2023. 22 December 2023 . Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . en.
  6. Web site: Film Fund Luxembourg to invest €9.2 million in 20 new audiovisual productions. Davide. Abbatescianni . 4 December 2019. 30 October 2023 . Cineuropa . en.
  7. Web site: Film Fund Luxembourg announces the beneficiaries of its latest round of funding. Davide. Abbatescianni . 8 December 2020. 29 October 2023 . Cineuropa . en.
  8. Web site: Laif a Séil (The Last Ashes: Long-métrage cinéma) . The Last Ashes (Laif a Séil / The Giant's Tomb). Crew United . 3 February 2023 . 29 October 2023. fr.
  9. Film Fund Luxembourg, Fonds National de Soutien à la production audiovisuelle: Comité de sélection: Décisions - juillet 2021. Film fund Luxembourg, National Fund to support audiovisual production: Selection committee: Decisions - July 2021 . op gouvernement.lu. July 2021. 30 October 2023. fr.
  10. Web site: Ee Bléck hannert d'Kulisse vun engem Lëtzebuerger Western . A look behind the scenes of a Luxembourg western . Claudia Kollwelter, Vidosava Kuzmic . RTL Luxembourg. 7 June 2022. 29 October 2023. lb.
  11. Web site: Hannert de Kulissen um Filmdréi "Läif a Séil". Behind the scenes at the filming of "Lief a Séil" . Claudia Kollwelter . RTL Luxembourg. 7 June 2022. 30 October 2023. lb.
  12. Web site: The Festival's 56th Edition Kicks Off by Announcing its Complete Lineup. Sitges Film Festival. 12 September 2023. 29 October 2023.
  13. Web site: The Last Ashes. Sitges Film Festival. 12 September 2023. 29 October 2023.
  14. Web site: Luxembourg 'western' is a classic revenge tale with a feminist bent . Duncan Roberts. Luxembourg Times . 19 October 2023 . 30 October 2023. en.
  15. Web site: 10 películas optarán a la nominación al Goya a Mejor Película Europea en la 38ª edición de los premios. 10 films will compete for the Goya nomination for Best European Film at the 38th edition of the awards. 27 October 2023. 29 October 2023. Marco . Sánchez Sequera . Audiovisual451 . es.

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