Last Tango in Paris is a 1972 erotic drama directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. The film stars Marlon Brando as the middle-aged American businessman, Paul, and Maria Schneider as the young Parisian woman, Jeanne.
The film begins with the death of Jeanne's mother. She is preparing to marry her boyfriend Tom, but feeling lost and alone, she goes to an empty apartment for some alone time. There she meets Paul, who is using the vacant space for similar reasons. They begin a sexual relationship, but Paul insists that they do not exchange names or personal information, telling Jeanne that their relationship will be based solely on sex.
The affair quickly becomes intense and increasingly sordid. They meet in the apartment regularly, and Paul introduces increasingly taboo sexual activities, including sodomizing Jeanne with butter. Despite the physical intensity of their relationship, neither Paul nor Jeanne seem to be truly fulfilled.
Meanwhile, Jeanne's relationship with Tom deteriorates, and her father is unhappy with her choices. When Paul leaves for the United States, Jeanne attempts to start a new life, but finds that she is unable to move on.
The film is controversial for its graphic sexual content, and critics have debated whether the relationship depicted is one of exploitation or mutual consent. Despite this controversy, Last Tango in Paris has been widely regarded as a landmark in erotic cinema and one of Bertolucci's most powerful works.