The Last Mistress
Wed 18 Jun 2008 8pm
Cert 18, 104 mins Dir: Catherine Breillat France/Italy 2007
Adapted from the novel by Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly, The Last Mistress is set in nineteenth century France, when the world was apparently a far more innocent place.
However, all is not as it seems and beneath the surface lurk infidelities and other dark secrets. The Marquess of Fleurs chooses the amorous but philandering Ryno de Marigny to marry her innocent young daughter, but first Ryno must extricate himself from a ten year long affair with the devilishly seductive Vellini. The Last Mistress is a lavish period piece of filmmaking that nonetheless has a universal, contemporary message. In French with English subtitles.
A rich, engrossing story. Sharp, witty...gravely beautiful. Time Out£7 (£5.50 Members)