The American title of Catherine Breillat's new film is The Last Mistress but it's direct and appropriately inferred title is An Old Mistress. I agree with most of Manohla Dargis' views, this film was her pick of the week lasting twice that title, but what Dargis doesn't admit to is one audience requirement: must like period piece.
This move is near perfect - simple yet developed story, superb acting, tightly edited and compiled and finally, as my patience is wearing thin on three hour epics, a clean 110 minutes. There is plenty of full nudity and sexual encounters (Last Mistress received an NR rating) but, sorry gentlemen, it's far from gratuitous. Mistress is a period piece and no amount of flesh can change this. And ladies, when approaching this film keep in mind that it's French. With a French story. It's more Dangerous Liasons and Madame Bovary than Jane Austin and her feminist love stories. If you enjoy a good period piece, The Last Mistress is incredibly depressive, more about the foils of monogomy that a spirited lover. Watch when in a good mood and in the company of others.
Asia Argento is outstanding, her ability to change moods in a single shot just by slightly moving her mouth and changing her gaze is unparalleled since the likes of Julietta Masina. We owe more to her than to her character Vellini and the same goes for her lover Ryno ( Fu'ad Ait Aattou). It's always nice to see classics acted out by the gorgeous considering, deep down, we know that it is far from fact.
Manohla Dargis NY Times Review
The Last Mistress Trailer
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