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At 91, Costa-Gavras, master of political thrillers like Z (1969) and Missing (1982), switches his vision from geopolitical intrigues to the intimate universality of death in The Last Breath.

Inspired by Régis Debray and Claude Grange’s philosophical treatise, the film is less a narrative and more an intellectual meditation—an invitation to reflect on mortality alongside its aging author. True to form, Costa-Gavras approaches this serious issue with care, incorporating themes of dignity, autonomy, and existential fear into the fabric of modern healthcare.

The film explores the friendship between Fabrice Toussaint, a philosopher, and Dr. Augustin Masset, a palliative care specialist. Through an episodic narrative, the two encounter patients embodying diverse approaches to death: rebellion, tranquility, and denial.

From Charlotte Rampling as an affluent woman demanding control over her death to Angela Molina as a Romany matriarch turning her final moments into a clan celebration, these vignettes explore the human condition with poignancy and intellectual rigor.

Costa-Gavras, the celebrated Franco-Greek master who’s won an Oscar and a Palme d’Or, has teamed with French sales company Playtime for his latest film, “Last Breath.”

Currently in post-production, “Last Breath” boasts a strong international cast led by Denis Podalydès (“Deception”) and Kad Merad (“Welcome to the Sticks”), who star alongside Marilyne Canto (“The Starry Sky Above Me”), Charlotte Rampling (“Dune”), Ángela Molina (“Broken Embraces”), Karin Viard (“Strangers by Night”), Hiam Abbass (“Succession”) and Agathe Bonitzer (“Maria Montessori”).

Costa-Gavras penned the film, based on the book “Le Dernier Souffle” by Régis Debray and Claude Grange. A Cannes regular, Costa-Gavras won the Palme d’Or for “Missing” in 1982, served on the jury in 1976 and won the Jury Prize with his political thriller “Z” which went on to win an Oscar. He has also been feted as guest of honor at Cannes Classics, the selection dedicated to heritage films.

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