How Does Last Tango in Paris End?

By Michael Ferguson

Last Tango in Paris is a controversial film that explores the complex relationship between two strangers who meet by chance and engage in a passionate, but ultimately destructive affair. The film, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, was released in 1972 and quickly gained notoriety for its explicit sexual content and provocative themes.

The movie tells the story of Paul (Marlon Brando), an American expatriate living in Paris who is grieving the recent suicide of his wife. One day, while wandering through an empty apartment building, he meets Jeanne (Maria Schneider), a young French woman who is about to be married.

Despite their age difference and cultural barriers, Paul and Jeanne embark on a torrid affair that takes place exclusively within the confines of an anonymous apartment they rent for their encounters. The film’s central conflict arises from their inability to reconcile their intense physical connection with their emotional detachment from each other.

As the film progresses, it becomes clear that both characters are using each other as a means of coping with their respective traumas. Paul reveals that he was sexually abused as a child by his mother, while Jeanne struggles with her parents’ expectations for her future.

The relationship reaches its breaking point during a scene where Jeanne discovers that Paul has been lying to her about his identity and personal history. In a moment of rage and despair, she grabs a gun from Paul’s jacket pocket and shoots him dead.

The final scene of the movie shows Jeanne wandering through the empty apartment building where she first met Paul, looking lost and alone. The camera pans out to show her walking away into the distance as the credits roll.

In conclusion, Last Tango in Paris ends with the tragic death of one of its main characters and leaves viewers with a sense of ambiguity about what will happen to Jeanne moving forward. The film’s frank portrayal of sexuality and unconventional storytelling techniques have made it both a classic of world cinema and a controversial piece of art.