Watch Last Words

Last Words is a 2020 drama film directed by Jonathan Nossiter and stars Nick Nolte, Kalipha Touray, and Charlotte Rampling. The movie explores the life of a famous Parisian author, Francis, who is in his final years of life. He has dedicated his entire life to writing, and his last manuscript is about his life, his dreams, his relationships, and the world as he has seen it.

The film reflects on the struggles of both Francis and his biographer, Lena, as they try to finish his memoir amidst many challenges. Francis, played by Nolte, is an old man with a declining health whose body aches, and whose mind is fading. Touray plays Lena, his biographer, who is struggling to capture the essence of Francis’s life while he still has the energy and the memory to tell it. Lena has her own personal background and financial struggles, which further complicate the project’s completion.

Throughout the movie, we see the two main characters continue to bounce ideas off each other in interviews and discussions, and the audience is able to witness the beauty of two people from different worlds developing a bond through their love of literature. As the story unfolds, Francis and Lena become close friends and begin to understand more about one another.

With only weeks to live, Francis sets out to complete his last manuscript, which is full of quotable lines and deep philosophical ruminations on life and the human condition. These insights come from years of experience and knowledge in the literary world, and they reveal much about Francis’s worldview and the journey of his own life. His late reflections sometimes offer a personal note to some of the events that happen in the film.

Last Words is set against the backdrop of Paris and its bustling streets, its cafes, and its intellectual circles. The film also deals with themes of mortality, ageing, and the search for meaning, as well as touches on serious topics of mental illness, addiction, and abuse. One of the most profound themes in the movie is the display of the value of genuine human connections, especially between people from different generations or social classes.

The film’s cast is small, and it’s a deliberately slow-paced, contemplative movie. However, each character is skillfully written and portrayed, and they all come together as an ensemble to deliver a poignant and meaningful story. Nick Nolte’s portrayal of Francis is one of his most impressive performances, exuding a sense of calm acceptance in his twilight years, despite the physical and mental pain he is going through. Kalipha Touray, as Lena, complements Nolte’s character perfectly, injecting some youthfulness and excitement around Francis, and later showing the audience the burden of taking care of someone who is practically fading away.

Last Words is a film that is rich in genuine characters and themes that transcend cultures and time periods. The movie will resonate with audiences on many different levels, offering an insight into the human psyche that is haunting, moving, and unforgettable. Directed by Jonathan Nossiter, the film delivers a meditation on the human experience that is both breathtaking and awe-inspiring in its insights. The film is a must-watch for any literary aficionado while also offering universal appeal to anyone looking for a moving and thought-provoking drama.

Last Words is a 2021 science fiction movie. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.8 and a MetaScore of 50.