In this heartwarming and quirky comedy drama from writer/director Delphine Lehericey, a newly widowed retiree finds unexpected joy when he takes his wife’s place in a contemporary dance troupe in order to fulfill a promise.
Before tragedy strikes, Last Dance first makes us fall in love with happily married couple Germain (Francois Berléand) and Lise (Dominique Reymond). They support each other, make each other laugh, and live together in tandem the way couples do when they’ve been married for so long. They also combine their efforts to stave off their somewhat neurotic adult children, in particular their uptight son Matthieu (Jean-Benoît Ugeux). When Lise dies suddenly, we immediately feel her absence and the hole she’s left in Germain’s life. What’s more, the children now pinpoint all of their concerned energy onto Germain, organizing an absurdly detailed schedule of supervision and check-ins complete with colour-coded sticky notes. It leaves Germain feeling stifled.
Germain finds an escape in the unlikeliest of places: a contemporary dance troupe led by famed choreographer La Ribot (played by La Ribot herself). Sometime during their marriage, Germain and Lise had promised each other that whoever died first, the other must put themselves in the spouse’s shoes and finish what they had started. As luck would have it for Germain, shortly before Lise died she had joined the contemporary troupe as an amateur dancer for their upcoming show. And so, keeping it secret from his family and with an enthusiastic welcome from the eccentric La Ribot, Germain takes Lise’s place in the troupe.
We immediately see the potential for comedic disaster as Germain’s busy (and secret) rehearsal schedule clashes with his anxious kids’ sticky note-ridden calendar. His excuses and work-arounds to avoid and mollify his children and his over-eager neighbour become increasingly intricate and absurd, providing the audience with lots of laughs. With help from his granddaughter Lucie (Lisa Harder) and dance partner Samir (Kacey Mottet Klein), Germain somehow manages to make it all work. Nevertheless, all the while we’re on the edge of our seats waiting for the inevitable reveal and subsequent confrontation. Anticipating this, Lehericey nicely subverts our expectations in a way that satisfies the story and audience.
With a great script and a strong cast, the film deftly interweaves comedy and drama as Germain engages more wholeheartedly and vulnerably in his dance rehearsals. What starts as simply keeping a promise amidst his grief turns into Germain’s greatest joy, as well as a way to simultaneously hold onto Lise a little longer and say a final farewell. The process is uplifting, funny, and also bittersweet to watch. Germain and the audience worry a little about what he will do after the performance is over and he no longer has dance to consume his time and keep him connected to his loved one; however, the thought becomes less scary with his family (both blood and found) by his side, supporting him.
Contemporary dance intersects nicely with cinema. La Ribot brings her choreography and leadership skills while Lehericey brings her background in performing arts and experience helming feature films. Their combined talents along with a wonderful supporting cast provide an effective flow that creates space for both narrative development and dance. They allow us to laugh at the peculiarity of contemporary movement pieces (particularly as Germain first experiences it) and also appreciate it for the freedom and emotive energy it creates.
Last Dance is full of heart, laughter, and complex family dynamics. It deals with grief and aging in a fresh and thoughtful manner, and it provides delightful narrative surprises along the way. There’s a little something for everyone.
Having previously presented films at the Locarno Film Festival, Lehericey returns this year with Last Dance, which premiered as a Piazza Grande selection. Hosting 8,000 viewers a night, the open-air Piazza Grande venue is the heart of the festival showcasing big cinematic events and prestigious screenings.