The famous Italian heartthrob Giacomo Casanova is a unique person whose life path and love affairs still cause genuine interest in people. It is not surprising that this historical character has become the hero of costumed films more than once. On the big screen, such famous actors as Donald Sutherland, Marcello Mastroianni, Alain Delon, Heath Ledger, John Malkovich were reincarnated in him. In 2019, another variation on the theme of the life of the great seducer was released - the French drama "Casanova's Last Love".
Plot and actors
The action of the film directed by Benoit Jacot takes the audience to London, where Giacomo Casanova arrives after his expulsion from Paris. In a new, unfamiliar city, he feels uncomfortable until he meets a young courtesan, Marianne de Charpillon. This fatal beauty manages to drive the experienced ladies' man crazy. Next to her, he is even ready to forget about other women. However, Marianne is not at all as simple and accessible as Casanova would like. Each time she escapes from his embrace, deftly turning an avid hunter into a helpless victim. Soon, the famous ladies' man begins to realize that the only woman he has ever loved will remain an unattainable dream for him. After all, Marianna is ready to surrender only if Casanova stops wanting her …
The storyline in Casanova's Last Love is constantly shifting between the past and the future. The protagonist, who has greatly aged, tells this story to a young woman. Following his memories, the film's playful atmosphere gradually takes on dark tones, showing the drama of a heartthrob in love.
The main characters were played by French actors Vincent Lyndon (Casanova) and Stacy Martin (Marianne). Judging by the reviews of European moviegoers, who saw the tape much earlier than Russian viewers, the on-screen pair managed to create a “sharp and heartbreaking duet”. The film also stars: Julia Roy, Valeria Golino, Nathan Willcox, Nancy Tate, Christian Erickson, Anna Cottis and other actors.
Telling the story of a Venetian adventurer and libertine, the creators could not do without explicit scenes and shots with naked bodies. However, according to critics, the showing of intimate moments in the film serves only as a background, and the authors wanted to make the real emphasis on the "mechanics of hearts and minds." However, the age limit of "16+" is set for the French drama in the Russian box office.
Creation story, premiere, trailer
The film was written by director Benoit Jacot in collaboration with Jerome Beaujour and Chantal Thoma. They took as a basis the autobiographical book of Giacomo Casanova "The Story of My Life". In it, the famous heartthrob told the story of his only love, passion, which he had never experienced with any other woman.
The leading actor Vincent Lyndon has previously worked with Jacot in three films. Upon learning of the director's plans for Casanova, he reacted to this idea with such zeal and enthusiasm that he won approval for the main role. Although initially the filmmaker considered him too strong and bright personality, not coinciding in temperament with the image of an aging seducer.
Incidentally, in preparation for the work, Lyndon paid a lot of attention to various details of his character's behavior. He learned to properly wear stockings, a wig, suits, heels, jewelry. The actor also honed his gestures so that they did not run counter to the manners of people from the 18th century.
The director drew attention to the actress Stacy Martin in the film "Nymphomaniac" by Lars von Trier. The girl amazed him with her uninhibited acting on the screen, but in real life she turned out to be modest, executive and open to experimentation on the set. Jaco was looking for all these qualities in an actress who was supposed to play the insidious seductress Marianne. Another plus for him was the fact that Martin and Lyndon immediately formed a harmonious duet in the frame.
As for filming bed scenes, the director himself doesn't like filming such things too much. Therefore, in the film "Casanova's Last Love" he tried to keep the fine line between eroticism and vulgarity.
The official trailer for the French drama was released in early February 2019, and its world premiere took place a month later. For Russian viewers, the rights to the picture were acquired by the Russian Reportage company. The dubbed trailer was released on May 29th. In domestic cinemas, the new story of Casanova will begin to be shown on June 27.
Trailer Link
