Last Tango In Paris — Last Tango In Paris( UHD/ Blu Ray)
Last Tango In Paris was one of the provocative, controversial, and talked-about films of the 1970’s. With its mix of troubling sexual content & off-kilter, at times meta drama commenting on death & formal relationships. All wrapped up in arty/ at times uneven plotting, taking in powerful/ unpredictable performances from its two leads. Its plot regards the sexual liaisons between two strangers, forty-five-year-old American hotelier Paul (Marlon Brando) and twenty-something French woman Jeanne (Maria Schneider). Here from 88 Films is a dual UHD/ Blu Ray release of the film. It features a 4k scan, a new commentary track, and a mix of new/ archive extras.
Last Tango in Paris ( aka Ultimo Tango A Parigi) is from the year 1972- been a Italian/ French co-production. It was directed/ co-written by Parma, Italy-born Bernardo Bertolucci. Between the early 1960’s and early 2020s, he has nineteen features to his name- these include social commentary lined who-done-it/ mystery The Grim Reaper ( 1962), political/ psychological period drama The Conformist (1970), and historic epicThe Last Emperor (1989).
The film opens in a rather haphazard manner- though it does make sense/ have meaning later on. We see a shambling, tearful, and briefly yelling man in a trench coat walking along a street under a train underpass. Initially wary, then running past him younger woman- here are our two leads.
The woman, Jeanne (Schneider), rushes into a grand-if-run-down apartment block, asking the larger/ maniacal laughing African female caretaker for the key to an apartment that’s up for rent…the keys are missing, so she gives her the spare key. She makes her way into the largely shadowy apartment, to be encountered by Paul (Brando), who is skulking in the shadows. After a few words he has grabbed her, pulled down her underwear and starts have violent sex with her….from here on, ever so often the pair meet for sex in the apartment- and it’s gets weirder / more troubling each time- from butter used for painful anal sex, and her trimmed finger nails up his butt- as he talks dirty about shagging a vomiting & half dead pig.
In between these encounters, we get snapshots of each's life- Alex runs a hotel, and is deeply troubled as his wife has recently committed bloody suicide in one of the rooms. And Jeanne has a Fiancée who is obsessed with making a faux documentary about their love for each other.
The film's structure and at times, plotting is rather unpredictable, but this works with Brando’s acting. As he shifts, sometimes jarringly, from being emotionally upset to brutally cohesive, to creepily charming, all the way to mockingly posh. Schneider's acting is more grounded/ rational, but still impactful because it highlights Brando’s skewedness.
It’s quite easy to see why Last Tango In Paris is such a polarising film. Not only is it troubling sexual content/ suggestion, it’s the jarring explosion of emotion, and the whole unpredictable structure of the picture, which is edged with meta moments. I’d say it’s not a film for those easily offended- yes, it’s fairly tame in what you see sexually, but it’s the intent. This is my first time watching the film, and I’ll have to say I’m somewhat on the fence- on one hand, I admire the acting & the unpredictability of the structure. But on the other hand, I feel it’s almost trying too hard to be arty/ awkward- and towards the end of the film we have a rather unnecessarily dance hall scene, which felt very trying. It’s certainly a film with merit- and I will certainly revisit it.
The region-free Blu-ray features a new 4 K scan- this has such lovely depth and clarity about it, yet the 70’s tonal feel is still retained- a difficult balance, but it’s done perfectly here.
On the extras side, we get a good selection of mostly new things. First off, we get an excellent commentary track from genre experts Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth, and like the best tracks, it really improves/informs one's viewing of the picture. They begin by declaring the film is a highly political manifesto & comment on the use of Francis Bacon's work in the credits. They talk about the importance of editor Franco Arcalli in the film's making, before giving his bio. They discuss how the picture is about the failure of a generation, fuelled with bitter nostalgia, with it being set in limbo/ non-place Paris. We find out the film was going to be based on a homosexual relationship, with the script taking three years to complete. Later on, they discuss the male characters in the film, point out supporting roles, and much more. All in a must-play track- which I’ll most certainly revisit before I watch the film again.
Otherwise, on the new side we have the following: A Hidden Romanticism (26.41) Interview with Film Critic Maurizio Porro. Tango Blues (26.03) Interview with Co-Editor Robert Perpignani. Bernardo’s Initiation ( 23.40) Interview with Filmmaker Francesco Barilli.
And on the archive side, we have the following: A Conversation with Bernardo Bertolucci (29.58). Where the Tango Took Place ( 6.16) Filming Locations Featurette. The finished release features a rigid slipcase featuring new artwork by Tommy Pocket, and a picture booklet.
Last Tango In Paris is most certainly an impactful film- which I’d say will appeal to those looking for well-acted, transgressive, and arty cinema. This new 88 Films release features a well-balanced 4 K scan, and a great selection of informative/ interesting extras.