Last Tango in Paris

Last Tango in Paris

Year: 1973

Runtime: 136 min

Language: French

Director: Bernardo Bertolucci

Budget: $1.3M

DramaRomance

In Paris, a grieving American expatriate, Paul, seeks comfort in a passionate and anonymous relationship with a young French woman named Jeanne. Their intense physical connection unfolds against the backdrop of the City of Love, as they attempt to escape personal tragedies and find solace in each other. However, as their affair deepens, unresolved emotional burdens and unspoken vulnerabilities begin to surface, threatening to shatter their fragile connection.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Last Tango in Paris (1973)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Last Tango in Paris (1973). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Paris

Paris, known as the City of Light, is famous for its art, fashion, gastronomy, and culture. The film explores various iconic locations throughout the city, creating a backdrop for intense emotional drama. The setting heightens the contrast between the romantic allure of Paris and the protagonist's emotional turmoil.

🏙️ City 🇫🇷 France

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:33

Main Characters – Last Tango in Paris (1973)

Meet the key characters of Last Tango in Paris (1973), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Paul (Marlon Brando)

Paul is a middle-aged American grappling with the death of his wife, which deeply affects his emotional state. His character is complex, oscillating between vulnerability and aggression as he navigates his tumultuous relationship with Jeanne. The weight of his grief drives him to pursue a connection that ultimately proves destructive.

😔 Grief 🔒 Isolation 🔥 Passion

Jeanne (Maria Schneider)

Jeanne is a young woman caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions as she engages in a relationship with Paul. She embodies both innocence and frustration, grappling with her desires and the harsh realities of her connection with Paul. Her journey reflects the struggle between love and autonomy, revealing her complexities as a character.

💔 Heartbreak 🌪️ Conflict 💃 Desire

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:33

Major Themes – Last Tango in Paris (1973)

Explore the central themes of Last Tango in Paris (1973), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Love and Loss

The film intricately portrays the themes of love, heartbreak, and grief. Paul's unresolved sorrow over his wife's death intersects with his volatile relationship with Jeanne, highlighting how past traumas can corrupt new connections. This exploration raises questions about the nature of intimacy and personal boundaries.

😢 Desperation

Desperation permeates the narrative, particularly as Paul's refusal to let go leads to violent consequences. Jeanne’s struggles with her own emotional attachments amplify this theme, revealing the lengths individuals will go to find connection in the face of profound sadness. Their tumultuous romance is a testament to how love can often dwell in painful extremes.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:33

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Emotionally Destructive Romances like Last Tango in Paris

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows two characters who enter a potent, often anonymous, physical relationship to escape their emotional turmoil. This initial agreement of no-strings-attached intimacy inevitably collapses as personal vulnerabilities surface, leading to a breakdown characterized by psychological manipulation, desperation, and a bleak, often violent, conclusion.

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Narrative Summary

The story is less about external plot and more about the internal landscape of the characters. The narrative structure often feels like a pressure cooker, where emotions and tensions gradually build within a confined relationship or location, leading to an explosive and cathartic, yet deeply tragic, release.

Why These Movies?

They share a high-intensity, raw mood and a focus on psychological depth over complex plotting. The pacing is often deliberate or variable, allowing the audience to feel trapped alongside the characters, experiencing their angst and desperation firsthand in an immersive, emotionally heavy way.

Unlock the Full Story of Last Tango in Paris

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Last Tango in Paris Summary

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Last Tango in Paris Summary

Last Tango in Paris Timeline

Track the full timeline of Last Tango in Paris with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Last Tango in Paris Timeline

Last Tango in Paris Spoiler-Free Summary

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Last Tango in Paris Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Last Tango in Paris

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Last Tango in Paris: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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