‘Last Summer’: A summer of dark and forbidden secrets
Image: Source: Potential Films
There’s something quite detestable about Last Summer, which concerns a married woman having an affair with her 17 year old stepson.
What propels a happily married woman with a high profile job and a loving husband to jeopardize her marriage by her involvement in such an illicit affair?
When Pierre’s (Oliver Rabourdin) son Theo (Samuel Kircher) is expelled from boarding school for incorrigible behaviour he returns to live with his father and Anne (Lea Drucker), his stepmother. At first he’s distant but after a few outings with his stepmother and stepsisters his agitation alleviates.
Spending time with Theo arouses certain desires in Anne – a first kiss leads to an ongoing steamy sexual relationship. It’s said that love works in mysterious ways. But is it love or lust?
Things turn sour when Theo tells his father about the affair – is she the villain for succumbing to his advances? Should a woman who knows the difference between right and wrong have engaged in such a forbidden affair?
A discreet and steamy hot sexual affair turns dark in the second half as the drama transforms into a quasi-game of cat and mouse as thriller elements emerge.
The performances cannot be faltered but the sexual attraction between Anne and her stepson Theo is difficult to comprehend as they share no sexual chemistry. If a more mature actor with striking good looks had been cast in the role of Theo, rather than an actor with skinny and boyish attributes, the credibility element may have filtered through.
The sex scenes between Anne and Theo are too lengthy and graphic and may be offensive to women who feel repugnance towards the storyline of a mature woman having sexual relations with a young man whose youthful appearance may suggest that he’s merely a child.
But then what would a French movie be without steamy sex scenes?
Somewhere in the depths of illicit sex and forbidden relationships lies an overshadowing storyline about a father and son relationship. Who is telling despicable lies? Should a father believe his son over the word of his wife?
If sensitive audiences absorb the amoral nature of this story, they may find that interesting discussions will develop asking, who’s the true villain in this narrative?
Disappointment may arise in the final moments of Last Summer for audiences who expect clarity and closure, as it leaves audiences with more questions than answers.
★★½
In Cinemas September 5
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