The Last Mistress (2007)

Secrets, rumors and betrayals surround the upcoming marriage between a young dissolute man and virtuous woman of the French aristocracy.

Director:

Catherine Breillat

Writers:

Jules-Amédée Barbey d'Aurevilly (novel), Catherine Breillat (adaptation)

Stars:

Asia Argento, Fu'ad Aït Aattou, Roxane Mesquida

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Asia Argento	...	Vellini
Fu'ad Aït Aattou	...	Ryno de Marigny
Roxane Mesquida	...	Hermangarde
Claude Sarraute	...	La marquise de Flers
Yolande Moreau	...	La comtesse d'Artelles
Michael Lonsdale	...	Le vicomte de Prony
Anne Parillaud	...	Mme de Solcy
Jean-Philippe Tesse	...	Le vicomte de Mareuil
Sarah Pratt	...	La comtesse de Mendoze
Amira Casar	...	Mademoiselle Divine des Airelles
Lio	...	La chanteuse
Isabelle Renauld	...	L'arrogante
Léa Seydoux	...	Oliva
Nicholas Hawtrey	...	Sir Reginald
Caroline Ducey	...	La dame de Pique

Storyline

At 30, boyish penniless aristocrat Ryno de Marigny has separated from Villini, a passionate Spaniard and his mistress of 10 years. He's now in love with Hermangarde, a young, wealthy, and titled virgin. Days before the wedding, the bride's grandmother sits Ryno down and insists on knowing if his affair is over. He relates a story of passion, which we see in flashbacks, swearing he loves only Hermangarde. After the wedding, the couple moves to a castle by the sea. And Villini? Can passion survive disgust and self-loathing?

---

Plot Keywords:

breasts | infidelity | extramarital affair | female frontal nudity | female nudity | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

18 July 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Last Mistress

Filming Locations:

Île de Bréhat, Côtes-d'Armor, France

Box Office

Budget:

$6,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$33,554, 29 June 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$785,037, 5 October 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Flach Film,CB Films,France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Asia Argento hated working with Catherine Breillat, calling her a sadist and claimed that she was abusive on set.

---

Goofs

In one shot, Asia Argento's tailbone tattoo is visible. Although tattoos were known to early 19th century Europeans (in fact, they date back before civilization), it seems improbable that Argento's character, a Spanish lady in France, was meant to have a tattoo in a design like the actress's tattoo.

---

Connections

Featured in Metropolis: Cannes 2007 - Special (2007)

---

Soundtracks

Faronell's Division
By John Playford

User Reviews

No French Twist here

Greetings again from the darkness. I always get a kick out of the French cinematic view of love. Of course, there is always some single person we are meant for ... though endless lovers are expected. Somehow there is a soul mate and we always find that person not matter the pain caused to ourself or others.

Director Catherine Breillat uses the transition of France from the late eighteenth century to the early nineteenth as the setting for this tale of "love" among the French upper crust. A cheap plot device - the ultimate detailed confession - provides the full guts of the story, both background and foreshadow.

What made the film inaccessible for me were both lead actors, especially Asia Argento as Vellini (the last mistress). I just didn't find these people likable, whether together or apart. On the other hand, I did enjoy Michael Lonsdale as de Prony, and his wonderful dialogue and delivery.

Mostly an uneventful couple of hours with no surprise ending at all.