Anne is a renowned lawyer specializing in sexual violence against minors. She lives in perfect harmony with her husband Pierre and their two adopted twin daughters in a house on the heights of Paris. One day, Theo, Pierre’s 17-year-old son from a previous marriage, moves in with them. Theo and his new stepmother quickly form an unexpected connection. Anne eventually begins an affair with him, and, in doing so, she risks jeopardizing her career and losing her family. Theo turns out to be a fragile figure, and as time passes, the relationship becomes destructive.

Last Summer is compelling for its engrossing storytelling and its tight drama even more so than for the taboo relationship it portrays. Defying narrative conventions and moral boundaries, Catherine Breillat’s 15th feature plays with discomfort and empathy, with monstrosity and humanity. Last Summer competed for the Palme d’Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. It is a remake of the 2019 Danish film Queen of Hearts (May el-Toukhy).

France

French with English subtitles

104 minutes