You know how some films stick with you like gum on a shoe? That's Last Tango in Paris movie for me. Saw it years ago at a revival screening and still feel unsettled. It's not entertainment. It's an emotional battering ram.
What Actually Happens in the Film?
Two strangers meet at a Paris apartment viewing. American widower Paul (Marlon Brando) and young Frenchwoman Jeanne (Maria Schneider). No names exchanged. Just raw physical encounters in that empty apartment. They use sex like a weapon against their pain.
Paul's grieving his wife's suicide. Jeanne's engaged to a filmmaker but drawn to anonymous danger. Their arrangement implodes when Jeanne demands real connection. The ending? Let's just say it involves chewing gum and a revolver.
Funny story: I tried watching this with my film student group last year. Three people walked out during the butter scene. Another kept yelling "What the hell, Brando?" at the screen. Not exactly date-night material.
Key Details Quick Reference
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | December 15, 1972 (Italy) |
| Director | Bernardo Bertolucci |
| Running Time | 136 minutes (Original Cut) |
| Notable Cast | Marlon Brando, Maria Schneider, Jean-Pierre Léaud |
| Current Rating | NC-17 (Originally X-rated) |
| Where to Stream | Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime (Rental) |
| Critical Score | 87% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes (Audience 74%) |
The Nuclear Controversy Explained
That butter scene. Still makes me uncomfortable decades later. Director Bertolucci admitted they sprung it on 19-year-old Schneider without full consent. Said he wanted her "reaction as a girl, not as an actress." Disgusting power play.
Schneider battled depression and addiction after filming. Called it "a horrible experience." Brando later apologized in his autobiography. The whole production feels tainted now.
But here's what gets me: People still debate whether art justifies exploitation. Sorry, not buying it. Great performances shouldn't require psychological torture.
Where to Actually Watch It Legally
Finding Last Tango in Paris isn't straightforward. It's banned in several countries. Even where available, most platforms carry the censored version.
| Platform | Version | Price | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criterion Channel | Uncut (136 min) | Subscription | US, Canada |
| Amazon Prime Video | Edited (129 min) | $3.99 rental | US, UK, Germany |
| Kanopy | Library version | Free (library card) | US, Australia |
| Physical Media | Criterion Blu-ray (4K) | $39.95 | Region A/1 |
Personally? I'd avoid edited versions. The cuts neuter Brando's disturbing monologues about his wife's corpse. Essential context for his character's rage.
Content Breakdown Guide
Before you watch, know what you're getting into:
- Graphic Sex Scenes: Multiple explicit encounters (originally rated X)
- Emotional Abuse: Psychological manipulation central to plot
- Animal Cruelty: Brief but disturbing rat torture scene
- Suicide Themes: Depictions of self-harm aftermath
Seriously, don't watch this with your parents. Or anyone really.
Brando's Performance: Genius or Exploitation?
Brando improvised most dialogues. That rambling monologue about his childhood? Pure Method acting madness. He hated filming though. Called Bertolucci "a fat Italian pig" during production.
Jeanne Moreau was originally cast as Jeanne. Thank god they went with unknown Schneider. Her vulnerability makes the horror believable.
Weird fact: Brando wore his dead wife's coat in several scenes. Method acting or just creepy? Both probably.
Historical Impact and Legacy
Changed film censorship forever. Got banned in Italy, Spain, Chile. New York critics called it "pornography" but Pauline Kael famously declared it "a masterpiece."
Modern take? Feels like a relic. The explicit scenes seem gratuitous now. But Brando's raw pain still shocks. Saw it at Paris' Le Champo cinema last year. Audience sat in stunned silence afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Last Tango in Paris movie based on true events?
Not directly. Bertolucci claimed inspiration from a Jean-Paul Sartre story, but Sartre denied it. Mostly autobiographical elements from Brando and Bertolucci.
What happened to Maria Schneider?
Never fully recovered. Attempted suicide at 25. Spent years addicted to heroin and antipsychotics. Became an advocate against exploitation before dying of cancer in 2011.
Why was the butter scene so controversial?
Beyond the obvious? Schneider stated she felt "humiliated and raped" emotionally. Bertolucci didn't tell her about the detail beforehand to get authentic distress.
Is Last Tango in Paris worth watching today?
Only for film historians. The technical craft is undeniable. Brando's breakdown scene near the end? Chilling. But knowing the backstage abuse leaves a permanent stain.
Are there legal versions of the uncut film?
Criterion Collection's Blu-ray is definitive. Includes both cuts and Schneider's interviews. Streaming versions vary by region - check unconsentingmedia.org for updates.
Personal Final Thoughts
First viewing made me nauseous. Second viewing made me angry. This Last Tango in Paris movie isn't art - it's a crime scene captured on celluloid.
Bertolucci wanted to capture "absolute solitude." Mission accomplished. But watching it feels like complicity now. Schneider deserved better. Audiences deserve truth.
Still gets studied in film schools though. Professors love analyzing the framing and lighting while glossing over the abuse. Makes me want to throw things.
If you must watch? Get the Criterion edition. Read Schneider's interviews first. Skip the butter scene entirely. Some things shouldn't be seen.
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