Last Summer (2023) | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

87% Tomatometer 77 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings

With her first film in a decade, the fearless 75-year-old French auteur Catherine Breillat (Fat Girl, The Last Mistress) proves she's as provocative as ever with her Cannes-stirring film, which drives down the dark road of uncontrollable passion. A remarkably nuanced, radiant Léa Drucker plays Anne, an attorney who has plateaued in her marriage to Pierre (Olivier Rabourdin), a distracted businessman. His son, troubled seventeen-year-old, Theo (Samuel Kircher), from a previous marriage, has recently returned to Pierre's ineffectual and despondent care. When Pierre leaves town for a business trip, Anne and Théo -- confined under the same roof for the first time -- find themselves in the throes of an unexpected and dangerously lustful affair, threatening the stability of the household. Music by Kim Gordon heightens the erotic tension of LAST SUMMER, a film that boldly surveys power dynamics, female desire, and fulfillment.

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Last Summer

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Critics Consensus

A study of unbridled lust, Last Summer may not tell a new taboo story but is never less compelling for it.

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Critics Reviews

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Last Summer (2023) | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Stephen Romei The Australian Catherine Breillat's story of forbidden love will slide under your skin. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 20, 2024 Full Review Last Summer (2023) | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Jake Wilson The Age (Australia) Last Summer isn’t sexually explicit in the manner of some of Breillat’s earlier features, such as the 1999 Romance. All the same, it’s a provocation, as well as a gripping story. Rated: 4.5/5 Sep 12, 2024 Full Review Last Summer (2023) | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Matthew Lickona San Diego Reader That’s the character of the film as a whole: cataclysmic events taking place amid lovely, languid scenery and civil (or at least sophisticated) conversation. Rated: 2/5 Jul 12, 2024 Full Review Last Summer (2023) | Rotten Tomatoes (4) James Croot Stuff.co.nz While Theo may feel just a boiled bunny away from Glenn Close’s Alex Forrest, such becomes his obsession, there’s also an authenticity about the central pair's chemistry that’s been missing from other older woman-younger man relationships this year. Rated: 4/5 Oct 31, 2024 Full Review Last Summer (2023) | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Todd Jorgenson Cinemalogue Propelled by a committed cast, it's more thoughtful than salacious as it confronts moral complexities within realistically fractured family dynamics. Sep 20, 2024 Full Review Last Summer (2023) | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Simon Miraudo Movie Squad (RTRFM 92.1) Léa Drucker is so good here as the woman with a perfect life who'd rather jump off the cliff than accidentally fall off it, as she puts it. Rated: 4/5 Sep 6, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

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Arya S Soon after the second cringeworthy sex scene, the film takes an interesting, suspenseful turn. When it's over, I'm thinking this might be one of the best portrayals of how sexual abuse of children happens, how naiively they can fall under an adult's spell, and how easily they can be manipulated and dismissed. It's an ironic switch from the beginning, where Anne is actually a lawyer defending female victims of abuse, so she knows how these situations play out in the system. Anne is as rude and bored as Theo, walking out on her guests and talking her way through sex with her adoring husband. Just as she has no problems with the sexualization of her little girls, who run around in lipstick and high heels, she seems to easily cross the boundaries of decency with Theo. Hopefully Samuel Kircher, who expertly plays the pouty but charming teen, won't regret these scenes when he's a reflective adult. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/10/25 Full Review Alec B A slippery provocation that never feels easy, nor does it resort to cheap political messaging. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/01/24 Full Review Wayne M Last Summer is an alluring, seductive and provocative film. It's smart and thoughtful. Anne is a respected lawyer living in the French countryside. She has an idyllic life with her husband Pierre and their two young adoptive children. One summer Theo comes to stay. He is Pierre's son from a previous marriage. Theo is morose and quite obnoxious. He has been in trouble at high school and wants no part of Pierre and Anne's life. Anne especially finds him annoying, but slowly comes around to him. Soon enough they begin an illicit affair. Anne knows she is doing the wrong thing but her heart is ruling her head. She tries to break it off but the passion between the two is hard for her to resist. Eventually the affair will prove destructive to all involved. This is a mature and intelligent film, it's subtle and graceful. Even with dealing with a senstive subject. Acting is first class, especially Lea Drucker as Anne. A film for adults that treats the audience with respect. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/20/24 Full Review Robin C “Last Summer”Anne (Lea Drucker) is a successful attorney, married to Pierre (Olivier Rabourdin) and raising their two adopted daughters. His son from another marriage, Theo (Samuel Kircher), is spending time with them. Then sparks start to fly between Anne and the teen in “Last Summer”75-year old Catherine Breillat directs and co-writes (with Pascal Bonitzer) this adaptation of the 2019 Danish film, “Queen of Hearts.” The remake is pretty much a blow-by-blow of the original, but with a mostly Gallic flavor – until the end, when its Danish roots show through.Things start out pretty idyllic with Anne having a successful legal career and equally successful marriage, with children. Then, Theo moves in for a while. Anne puts up with his sullenness for only so long when she scolds him to show a little interest in his family and participate. Initially, the teen takes it to heart, spending time with Ann and the girls.The added time at closer quarters between Anne and Theo causes the ice to melt between them. Soon, they kiss…and more. Anne, shocked at her behavior with a mere lad, immediately tells him it was the first and last time. The lady doth protest too much, though, and things heat up between the two. Then, Pierre tells Anne that he and his son are going to their chalet for some father-son bonding time.This is where the Gallic sensibilities become more Danish and confrontations, denials and accusations take hold. The overall tone of the story changes and conflict becomes more important than family. I know why the story headed in this direction but it is not satisfying from my viewer standpoint.Acting, as expected, is first-rate with Drucker giving Anne a strong will and sense of independence – and control. Samuel Kircher is pretty enough as Anne’s objet d’affection but, truthfully, she’s a cradle robber. The kid does play a sometimes snotty teen well.B- Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/20/24 Full Review Efrem M Good but not great. Although there were some great performances in it, the script could use some polishing. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/03/24 Full Review avner k An absorbing film about handling sexual complexities -- a professional defender of abused girls ends up with a complicated issue at home. Well made. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/03/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Catherine Breillat Director Léa Drucker Anne Samuel Kircher Théo Olivier Rabourdin Pierre Clotilde Courau Mina Serena Hu Serena
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Synopsis With her first film in a decade, the fearless 75-year-old French auteur Catherine Breillat (Fat Girl, The Last Mistress) proves she's as provocative as ever with her Cannes-stirring film, which drives down the dark road of uncontrollable passion. A remarkably nuanced, radiant Léa Drucker plays Anne, an attorney who has plateaued in her marriage to Pierre (Olivier Rabourdin), a distracted businessman. His son, troubled seventeen-year-old, Theo (Samuel Kircher), from a previous marriage, has recently returned to Pierre's ineffectual and despondent care. When Pierre leaves town for a business trip, Anne and Théo -- confined under the same roof for the first time -- find themselves in the throes of an unexpected and dangerously lustful affair, threatening the stability of the household. Music by Kim Gordon heightens the erotic tension of LAST SUMMER, a film that boldly surveys power dynamics, female desire, and fulfillment.

Director
Catherine Breillat

Producer
Saïd Ben Saïd

Screenwriter
Catherine Breillat, Pascal Bonitzer

Distributor
Sideshow / Janus Films

Production Co
SBS Productions

Genre
Drama, Romance, Mystery & Thriller

Original Language
French (France)

Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 28, 2024, Limited

Box Office (Gross USA)
$174.6K

Runtime
1h 44m

Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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