Two bits of reading material and an internet excursion prompted this report – one from Marlon Brando’s autobiography wherein he states that Bernardo Bertolucci, when discussing “Last Tango in Paris,” said that the movie was about whether individuals could have repeated instances of anonymous sex without forming personal attachments.

The other was from the August 19, 2007 issue of the New York Times with its review of the then upcoming, new HBO dramatic series on marriage “Tell Me You Love Me.” The Times article states that this series, “while more sexually explicit than any other show on TV, is more clinical than erotic, more analytical than dramatic: and, ultimately leaves the viewer with the feeling that marriages ‘hinge, or collapse, on sexual intercourse’.”

Love on the beach.

The article concludes with the idea that modern relationships have little to do with real intimacy and that even within marriage the sex act is a matter of single expression – a kind of masturbation in the presence of another. At least, according to one writer, that seems to be where TV is headed in its depiction of that institution. “Californication” from Showtime is another example and, of course, there is the sexual phantasmagoria of the internet and satellite radio which are, almost by definition, singular in their sexual expression.

Here in Cannes, my subjective observation is that the existence of anonymous sex is very much alive and happening. After all, there are the party-goers dancing the nights away on the tables at “Le Chunga” or at their own lavishly supplied private “soiree’s.” How many office “friendships” have been consummated in Cannes, the exotic, far-away place where, like Las Vegas, what happens here stays here. Within Cannes there are private clubs for that cater to individuals of varous sexual persuasions and that offer action with no holds barred — not for the faint hearted.

But, of course, that’s the case with all conventions; it’s just that Cannes seems more exotic and erotic than say, Houston or Chicago; however, what do I know?

Not much; the fact that I’ve been around for quite awhile makes me no expert in this area – but I want to include “Last Tango in Paris” as a movie to discuss.

However, I do agree with the NY Times article quoted above – TV programs like HBO’s “Tell Me You Love Me” and Showtime’s “Californication” are about sex in a very isolated way while the “old-fashioned” ideas about the nature of committed relationships are being ignored. But maybe these new shows actually do reflect the tenor of the times. We all know that the pendulum swings back and forth in human affairs and that in the mid-twentieth century ideas about sexual conduct were constrained while to-day, in comparison, they are quite free - particularly among the young, of course.

In regard to the internet, I’m a relative newcomer but in recent forays into this strange land, I’ve come across some interesting “evidence” of contemporary sexual mores that I think support the contention that much of to-day’s sexual action is solitary and insular in expression while dual or collective in a technological context.

For example, Sirius Satellite Radio features the presence of Howard Stern, the celebrated “shock jock” and self-proclaimed “King of All Media.” Stern’s presence is very powerful and dominates the programming of two of Sirius’ 200 or so channels. I actually enjoy Howard Stern’s intelligence and market savvy, but his acolytes who complete his full programming schedule really “lower the bar,” however I must say still fascinate me. I drive a lot and my radio is rarely tuned to anything but the Howard Stern stations (Sirius Satellite Radio 100 and 101).

One of Howard Stern’s follow-up programs is “Bubba, the Love Sponge Show” – a vulgar exercise in prurience that is truly astounding. 

The Stern program to some extent, but Bubba’s show, for sure, challenge the Taliban itself in their attitude towards, and their treatment of, women. The Taliban crowd insists that their women be covered head to toe while Bubba and his boys ask that their female guests take all of their clothes off! On a radio show!! (There is method to their madness of course, because Bubba has his radio program taped and shown as “BubbaRaw.com” on the net at 9.95 per month). You must catch at least one episode of “Bubba Raw” wherein you will hear at least one of the regular cast lick their lips as some young girl disrobes to such brilliant observations as “aahh…what nice titties” (accompanied by soundboard effects).

Her partial disrobing takes place within minutes of arriving at the mic.

The Taliban wants to eradicate any public sense of sexuality in any manner for their women while the Bubba Bunch want public sexuality – I don’t see much intimacy or caring or love on display in either rubric!

These fellows really push their women around too; (who am I talking about? – the Taliban fellows? – ‘fraid not). I saw (and heard) Bubba go into paroxysms of vicious anger over the fact that one of their regular “sexy girls” had put on some weight and, while reprimanding her, he actually snarled, threateningly, “I’d like to smash you in your Jap teeth!” Maybe Bubba was "putting on a show" – because he strikes me most of the time as a nice fellow. I actually like his show despite his apparent attitude towards women.

The girl, Akira, cried – and took the abuse; a truly sad moment in the tide of convergence. But these young women are quite ready for this; many work in the sex trades while it appears, with others, there may be other challenges besides no other kind of work being available.

So – I think, that in to-days weird world with its ever-increasing technology of isolation, within an environment of lonely segregation, repeated instances of anonymous sex between two people without forming personal relationships is quite possible. And if you add an exotic location plus considerable wealth along with the particular brand of French “libertinage,” maybe the answer to Bertolucci’s question is “Yes!”

More love on the beach.

But, I don’t think that was the answer supplied by his absorbing and challenging film “Last Tango in Paris.”

Movie Review:

Last Tango in Paris

Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci — MGM 1972
Starring: Marlon Brando, Maria Schneider

“Last Tango in Paris” and Marlon Brando present to us a man in such a spontaneous expression of crisis that it leaves the co-star and the audience in a state of fascination, shock and bewilderment. 

Paul and Jeanne are about to embark on a harrowing journey.

I was delighted personally when I saw the first notices re “Last Tango in Paris” because, as one of the legions of Brando fans, I was always waiting for him to lose weight and to return to his place in the cinematic firmament as the leading man who could and would single-handedly carry and define an excellent movie.

“The Godfather” was also made in 1972. So, Brando had already made a comeback – but Don Corleone was a character role and he had a fantastic supporting cast.

In “Last Tango in Paris,” he is the leading man (much slimmed-down) and this Franco-Italian art film is essentially a two-hander thus allowing no respite for Brando. In addition, according to his autobiography, Bertolucci expected him to improvise all his dialogue; working from the barest of ideas. So this movie is, in essence, a showcase for Marlon Brando’s huge talents – and he did not let us “Brandophiles” down.

Marlon Brando in a famous improvised scene over the body of his dead wife.

Just the most cursory of glances at the reviews and comments gives us:

“Last Tango in Paris” left me feeling depleted and exhausted, perhaps in part because I had done what Bernardo had asked and some of the pain I was experiencing was my very own.” (Marlon Brando, Autobiography)

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“Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Last Tango in Paris” is one of the great emotional experiences of our time. It’s a movie that exists so resolutely on the level of emotion, indeed, that possibly only Marlon Brando, of all living actors, could have played its lead.” (Roger Ebert)

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“The most controversial film of its era.” (Leonard Maltin)

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“The film is Brando’s, his comeback after too many bad movies.” (Time Out, UK)

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“This movie is easily mocked. But in its raw, artless, innocently self-important way, it packs a punch.” (Peter Bradshaw, Guardian Unlimited, UK)

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“The movie breakthrough has finally come…Brando and Bertolucci have altered the face of an art form.” (Pauline Kael)

The anonymous relationship is maintained with difficulty.

The core story is that of a grieving, 40ish widower in an ongoing anonymous sexual tryst with a very young and nubile woman. Bertolucci has said that the film is about anonymous sex and its effect, or lack of effect, on personal relationships.

The sex is torrid, perverse, even brutal and seems even more so because Jeanne as the young woman, played by Maria Schneider, seems not to comprehend what is happening – vacuous comes to mind as an adjective to describe her state of awareness.

Roger Ebert, in a remarkable essay, states that there are dark and dangerous places in men’s souls that, while unknowable, still need to be navigated. Paul (Brando), grieving over the suicide of his wife (or did he murder her?) seeks this kind of relentless, mechanical and demeaning sex for solace as he navigates his very dark place.

Paul leads Jeanne into bleak and joyless territory.

The question about anonymous sex is answered but so many more difficult questions are raised and left unanswered. I’m inclined to believe that the original question may be what Bertolucci thought, or intended, the movie to be about, but that the film that resulted from the combination of his and Brando’s art make that original thought superficial and possibly banal compared to the other inquiries that are unleashed by this emotionally furious, violent and, ultimately, very sad story.

“Last Tango in Paris” is a must-see, adult film that, while flawed, affords us glimpses into a man’s tortured soul through the stupendous, all-out, caution-to-the-winds performance of the greatest actor the screen has ever seen!