← Back to results
Last Tango in Paris
Ultimo tango a Parigi
1972 129 min France, Italy NC-17 18+
★7.6
Drama, Romance
Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Description
A recently widowed American begins an anonymous sexual relationship with a young Parisian woman.
Budget:
$1.25M
US Gross:
$36.14M
Worldwide:
$36.18M
Starring
Marlon Brando
Actor
Maria Schneider
Actor
Maria Michi
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 1974
— Best Director
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Actor
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Director
Golden Globe 1974
— Best Picture (Drama)
BAFTA 1974
— Best Actor
Key opinion
Bernardo Bertolucci’s controversial drama is widely regarded as a visually and aurally immersive masterpiece that uses raw, explicit sexuality to explore existential despair and social alienation. While many critics praise the improvised, visceral performances and bold direction, others remain alienated by the film’s bleak tone, perceived lack of character empathy, and the abrasive nature of its central power dynamic.
| Score | Gato Barbieri’s jazz-inflected score and Vittorio Storaro’s evocative cinematography create a deeply immersive and memorable atmosphere. | |
| Acting | Marlon Brando delivers a raw, improvisational performance that serves as the film’s emotional anchor, though opinions on his vocal delivery and overall impact are sharply divided. | |
| Screenplay | The film succeeds as a bold, psychologically complex study of loneliness and human fragility, yet others find the narrative aimless and the character motivations repetitive or undercooked. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is viewed by many as a deliberate, atmospheric build-up, while detractors find the film to be plodding, tedious, and difficult to finish. | |
| Theme | The explicit exploration of sex and power triggers significant moral and stylistic discomfort, with viewers polarized between seeing it as profound existential art or crude, vulgar provocation. |