Last Tango in Paris: Ultimo tango a Parigi (1972)

So this is a very dirty movie, there really isn't much to say to defend it as art. Banned in a number of countries, rated 18+, NC-17, X in all other countries, which most artistic films have at least a few rating groups that are ok with mild sexuality.

The film starts with a young woman, Jeanne [Maria Schneider] looking for an apartment in Paris. She is given the key to look at an apartment and finds a middle-aged American man inside, Paul [Marlon Brando]. The man looks homeless, or on drugs, who knowns... but he isn't handsome and instead of being freaked out... they have sex.

She takes the apartment, and we eventually learn that Paul recently had a wife that committed suicide. They maintain a strictly physical relationship and do not even exchange names. During the film they both sodomize each other. First Paul does it forcefully to Jeanne, then she does it in revenge later. Maria Schneider, who passed away recently commented that she always regrets that scene, and that the tears were very real in that scene because it was unscripted and Brando didn't get her much of a choice.

Aside from finding this film offensive, I just found it to be boring. A romance... not really, a horror... maybe. Part of the 1001 Movies to See Before You Die, and I can say that it is not an essential view for anyone.

Vote: 4/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070849/

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