The Last Ashes

The Last Ashes
Theatrical release poster
Luxembourgish Läif a Séil
LiterallyBody and Soul
Directed byLoïc Tanson
Written by
  • Loïc Tanson
  • Frédéric Zeimet
Produced byClaude Waringo
Starring
  • Sophie Mousel
  • Timo Wagner
  • Jules Werner
  • Luc Schiltz
  • Philippe Thelen
CinematographyNikos Welter
Edited byLoïc Tanson
Music byWhen 'Airy Met Fairy
Production
companies
  • Samsa Film
  • Artémis Productions
Release dates
  • 9 October 2023 (2023-10-09) (Sitges)
  • 25 October 2023 (2023-10-25) (Luxembourg)
Running time
120 minutes
CountryLuxembourg
Languages
Budget€3,947,432

The Last Ashes (Luxembourgish: Läif a Séil) is a 2023 Luxembourgish Western drama film directed by Loïc Tanson in his directorial debut. Starring Sophie Mousel, it follows Hélène, who returns to her native village under a new identity. Looking for revenge and ready to do anything to destroy the Graff family.[1] The film was premiered at the 56th Sitges Film Festival on 9 October 2023 and subsequently released in Luxembourg on 25 October.[2]

It was selected as the Luxembourgish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards[3][4] On 7 December it appeared in the eligible list for consideration for the 2024 Oscars,[5] but, it didn't make it to the shortlist.[6]

Synopsis

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This is a contemporary western drama with female leads, taking place in Luxembourg in 1854.

Hélène comes back to her home village taking new identity to take revenge from the Graff family. Graff family is ruling over her community with an iron fist. She is furious to see how her relatives and neighbors are oppressed by the cruel and powerful lords. She plans a revenge against the elitist and authoritarian family to destroy them, alone.

Cast

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  • Sophie Mousel as Hélène - Oona
  • Timo Wagner as Jon
  • Jules Werner as Graff
  • Luc Schiltz as Pier
  • Philippe Thelen as Luc
  • Konstantin Rommelfangen as Hélène's father
  • Larisa Faber as Hélène's mother
  • Henner Momann as Dutch soldier
  • Tommy Schlesser as Henri
  • Marie Jung as Marie
  • Jean-Paul Maes as Pastor Meyers
  • Denis Jousselin as Kremer
  • Jeanne Werner as Sindonie
  • Max Gindorff as Tom
  • Colette Kieffer as Woman from the village
  • Marc Baum as Man from the village
  • Jules Waringo as Man from the village
  • Pierre Bodry as Man from the village
  • Frank Grotz as Appersmann

Production

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In 2019, Film Fund Luxembourg contributed €30,000 for project development.[7] In 2020, Film Fund Luxembourg contributed €30,000 taking the contribution to €2.8 million of the total budget, which was estimated at €3,947,432.[8][2][9]

Eyneburg castle in Hergenrath, Belgium; the filming site of The Last Ashes

Filming began on 25 April 2022 and completed on 25 June mainly near the Eyneburg castle in Hergenrath in the municipality of Kelmis, Belgium.[10][2] On 7 June 2022, behind the scenes of filming were revealed.[11]

Release

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The Last Ashes was selected in Noves Visions section of the 56th Sitges Film Festival and screened on 9 October 2023 in Sitges, Catalonia, Spain.[12][13]

The film was screened at the FrightFest London Festival on 25 August 2024.[14]

Reception

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Duncan Roberts writing in Luxembourg Times praised Loïc Tanson and Frédéric Zeimet for researching the "old Luxembourgish to create dialogue with accents and vocabulary that may have been used in the 1880s". Roberts also praised production designer Christina Schaffer "for creating a suitably grim ambience"; and costume designer Magdalena Labuz for meticulous costumes; and duo of When Airy Met Fairy (Thorunn Egilsdottir and Mike Koster) for the "haunting music". Roberts was critical of editing of Tanson. Concluding he wrote, "The Last Ashes is a well-executed epic of the kind all too rarely made in Luxembourg." He added, "It is a gripping and gritty story - there are scenes of violence that will cause more sensitive viewers to reel in horror - that delves into a period of Luxembourg history also seldom explored."[15]

The film is selected as Luxembourg entry for nominations in 38th edition of Goya Award for Best European Film competing with other nine selections from 9 European countries. The 38th Goya Awards will take place on 10 February 2024 at Valladolid, Spain.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Tanson, Loïc (27 October 2022). "The Last Ashes". Cineuropa. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Laif a Séil (The Last Ashes: Long-métrage cinéma)" [The Last Ashes (Laif a Séil / The Giant's Tomb)]. Crew United (in French). 3 February 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Luxembourg selects pick for Oscars race". Luxembourg-times-online. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  4. ^ "European titles submitted for the Oscars race". Cineuropa. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  5. ^ Clayton Davis (7 December 2023). "Academy Announces 288 Eligible Titles for Animated, Documentary and International Feature Oscar Races". Variety. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  6. ^ "96th Oscars Shortlists Announced for 10 Categories". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  7. ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (4 December 2019). "Film Fund Luxembourg to invest €9.2 million in 20 new audiovisual productions". Cineuropa. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  8. ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (8 December 2020). "Film Fund Luxembourg announces the beneficiaries of its latest round of funding". Cineuropa. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Film Fund Luxembourg, Fonds National de Soutien à la production audiovisuelle: Comité de sélection: Décisions - juillet 2021" [Film fund Luxembourg, National Fund to support audiovisual production: Selection committee: Decisions - July 2021] (PDF) (Press release) (in French). op gouvernement.lu. July 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  10. ^ Claudia Kollwelter, Vidosava Kuzmic (7 June 2022). "Ee Bléck hannert d'Kulisse vun engem Lëtzebuerger Western" [A look behind the scenes of a Luxembourg western]. RTL Luxembourg (in Luxembourgish). Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  11. ^ Claudia Kollwelter (7 June 2022). "Hannert de Kulissen um Filmdréi "Läif a Séil"" [Behind the scenes at the filming of "Lief a Séil"]. RTL Luxembourg (in Luxembourgish). Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  12. ^ "The Festival's 56th Edition Kicks Off by Announcing its Complete Lineup". Sitges Film Festival. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  13. ^ "The Last Ashes". Sitges Film Festival. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  14. ^ "The Last Ashes". London FrightFest. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  15. ^ Duncan Roberts (19 October 2023). "Luxembourg 'western' is a classic revenge tale with a feminist bent". Luxembourg Times. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  16. ^ Sánchez Sequera, Marco (27 October 2023). "10 películas optarán a la nominación al Goya a Mejor Película Europea en la 38ª edición de los premios" [10 films will compete for the Goya nomination for Best European Film at the 38th edition of the awards]. Audiovisual451 (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 October 2023.
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