La dernière fête

Set in 18th century France, the film follows Marquise de Prie, a woman who moves through aristocratic circles with a mix of charm and calculation. Married to the Marquis de Savoy, she also holds the dangerous favor of King Louis XV, and her relationships with powerful men shape her standing at court. The story tracks her social maneuvers, intimate alliances, and the tensions that arise between personal desire and political influence. Scenes alternate between salons and royal chambers, showing how reputation, temptation, and rivalry play out in a world where private affairs have public consequences, and where one misstep can change everything.

Directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre, the movie adapts material tied to Stefan Zweig and writings by Madeleine Chapsal. Charlotte Rampling headlines as the Marquise, supported by Stéphane Freiss, Bernard Dhéran, and Thomas Kretschmann.

Critical response was mixed, with some viewers appreciating the performances and the film's attention to period detail while others found the pacing uneven. The available audience ratings are limited, reflecting a small, selective release. Themes include the use of femininity as influence, the moral gray areas of power, and the clash between private longing and public duty.

Though not widely known internationally, the film drew attention among fans of period romance and of Charlotte Rampling's work, who often point to her cool, controlled presence as the movie's central anchor. Costume and set design help recreate the courtly atmosphere, giving the picture an authentic, if subdued, feel that appeals to aficionados of historical dramas.

Commercial figures for the release are not widely reported, and the film appears to have had a modest theatrical run rather than a broad commercial push. Its visibility has remained strongest in specialty circles and among viewers interested in French historical cinema.