‘Last Breath (Le Dernier Souffle)’ directed by Costa-Gavras was a cinematic tour-the-force in the Official Competition of the 72nd San Sebastian International Film Festival circuit.
This was truly a marvelous film that dissects and reflects philosophically on death, palliative care and illness. With precision, skill and care, Director Costa-Gavras investigates different medical cases and gives the audience therapeutic cinema in such a majestic way. The film is emotional and sentimental and handles the topics of terminal illness, euthanasia and death in a sensitive way.
The protagonists gave powerful, and sympathetic performances. Doctor Augustin Masset (Kad Merad) places great emphasis on the commemoration of life and profound respect for the patient nearing to the end of life under his palliative care unit. Fabrice Toussaint (Denis Podalydès) is a philosophical writer who finds out about a lesion on a MRI brain scan. He engages in discussion with Masset on how to aid a living person to die in a state of grace. The movie explores perspectives on dying and the balance between individual autonomy.
There were also excellent supporting roles from Charlotte Rampling, Ángela Molina and others.
The script is a tapestry woven by the combination of the doctor’s experience, philosophical ideas, and stories told via flashbacks or care given at the bedside of the dying patients – this gives the audience multilayered context. The documentary-like format in this movie was used to examine the patient’s physical and mental suffering and the realism involved in navigating the most humane way to dichotomize denial versus accepting one’s departure. I must note that the last scene was absolutely beautiful.
‘Last Breath (Le Dernier Souffle)’ explores the ethics of truth-telling – that the end of life is an integral part of life. This was truly a spectacular film and I highly recommend it.
