RKS 2024 Film: “Last Summer” (L’été dernier): Lust Triumphs Over Hypocrisy, False Morals and Rationality

“Last Summer” makes you want to cringe and shout, “Stop you fools!”

We are introduced to Anne (Léa Drucker) as a lawyer counselling a minor client about the non-consensual sex she has suffered. Tell the truth she advises. The judge is well aware of the games defence counsel plays Anne says. Anne represents minors.

Anne is married to Pierre (Olivier Rabourdin) a successful but highly stressed-out corporate accountant. They have adopted twins and live a charmed upper middle-class lifestyle in suburbia.

The charm rapidly deteriorates when Pierre’s teenage son from a previous marriage, Theo (Samuel Kircher), arrives in the happy home. Theo is in trouble, yet again, for threatening one of his teachers.

Theo is rude, slovenly, manipulative, ungrateful, self absorbed, sullen and a thief. He seems topless most of the time. While in the midst of lovemaking with Pierre, Anne muses at 14 she had an obsession with a 33-year-old friend of her mother which both fascinated and disgusted her.

Matters progress rather quickly and Anne and Theo have a steamy relationship. It is winceable watching their walk into the quicksand of lust. Cover up, lying, hypocrisy and unbridled lust lead to riskier and more flagrant behaviour. I suppose we should take Anne’s comment she despises “normophiles” seriously as her behaviour is far from normal. As far as technicalities go Theo is a minor but obviously he is enjoying himself. His immaturity is evident by his total lack of discretion.

Pierre discovers the shenanigans and the shit hits the fan and issues of credibility and morality become weapons and despite convenience winning over justice sometimes lust is unstoppable.

Anne knows how to play games just like the defence counsel she criticizes.

Based on the Danish film “Queen of Hearts”.

Directed by Catherine Breillat.

You can watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLowz2jWzL0 .

Currently playing in theatre in Canada but elsewhere in the world available on Video/digitally.

RKS 2024 Film Rating 88/100.

RKS Literature: Not Wanting to be Caught by Anyone (J.P. Donleavy)

“I don’t want to be caught by anybody. Nor imprisoned or put down. In England they put a rope around your neck and let you go, whoops. Just across the channel they hoist that thing, shined and sharpened and tell you lay your sylph-like thing in there. I don’t know why I am so terrified by this capital punishment because I feel I’m a gentleman and live by all the rules and regulations any of you have put down and even a special few of my own. O watch the noose and knots and knives.”

J.P. Donleavy, “The Ginger Man”, 1955.

RKS Literature: “The Irish and Their Children” (J.P. Donleavy)

“The Irish feel that children are brought down on them by the wrath of God for screwing. All you hear if it weren’t for you kids life would be rosy and we could have a good time, But we worked and slaved ourselves to the bone to give you a little more than we had and now look at you, won’t bring a penny into the house. No-good loafer wasting your time with these books when there are good jobs at the railroad. “

J.P. Donleavy, “The Ginger Man”, 1955.

RKS Literature: Making a Marriage Happy (J.P. Donleavy)

“Fold my trousers. Must have everything neat. My underwear is a bit tattered. Whether to sleep naked or have the modesty of these torn undergarments. Modesty at all costs. These are the things that make the marriage happy. Meals on time, sugar, butter and salt on the table. Socks darned and go to the drawer and find a clean shirt. Miss Frost was right in there with those dishes. No fuss. No excuses. Fine person. Am I smelling? Sniff a pit. Little musty. Can’t have everything.”

J.P. Donleavy, “The Ginger Man”, 1955.

RKS 2024 Wine: Susana Balbo Rarely Gets Her Malbec Wrong

We try a Susana Balbo 2022 Signature Malbec. 96% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot. From grapes grown at 1150 meters and aged for 13 months in French oak.

Aroma: This wine, verging on purplish, flashes its blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and lavender soul in a smoky frame. Classic lush and plush Malbec.

Palate: Smooth and smoky full of black fruit and a gentle burn. Tannins are creeping and full almost creating a chewy wine. There is a seam of acidity running through the wine but thank goodness it, barely, takes a back seat to the fruit.

Food Match: Grilled flank steak with a chimichurri sauce and a red onion salad on the side. Vegheads might enjoy it with boiled butter beans tossed in oregano pesto. The wine suits food more than sipping due to its acidity.

Personality: Strong, forceful but not intimidating with a vision quite like Susana my creator.

Cellarbility: Drink now or hold until 2026-year end.

Price: $23 CDN (Ontario).

RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 91/100. Patricio Tapia 94. Wine Align 88.

(Susana Balbo 2022 Signature Malbec, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina, Domino Del Plata, Mendoza, Argentina, 750 mL, 14.5%).  

RKS 2024 Wine: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Pinot Noir

So far Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Merlot and 2021 Rosso have failed to impress. Incredibly cheap cork that crumbles whilst opening the bottles. Expectations are low for their 2021 Pinot Noir.

Aroma: Thank goodness it smells like Pinot Noir. Off to a roaring start but so far aromas of the Merlot and Rosso have been decent but the aroma does not migrate into the palate. Raspberry, cherry and sweet blackberry.

Palate: Moderate tannins and insipid fruit that struggles to speak to the palate an unfortunate Riverview characteristic.

Personality: I am like my 2021 Merlot and Rosso brother and sister. Drinkable but far from impressive. Please don’t pit me against Chilean red wine at this pricepoint as I do not want to get pummelled.

Cellarbility: Nada.

Food Match: A Friday night wine if you know what I mean.

Price: $25.15 CDN (Ontario).

RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 81/100.

(Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Pinot Noir, VQA Four Mile Creek, Riverview Cellars Estate Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, 750 mL, 13%).

RKS Literature: Non-Payment of Rent and the Testicular Itch (J.P. Donleavy)

“Things here are a bit desperate. You see, a man gives you a key and you go into this house and start to carry on your life and at the end of the week you give this man three slips of paper with redeemable London written on them and the man lets you stay where you are. If you don’t give this man little pieces of paper you find that he is outside the window watching you scratch your balls and as you may realize, to have impersonal eyes on you while dealing with testicular itch is a most awkward state of affairs.”

J.P. Donleavy, “The Ginger Man”, 1955.

RKS 2024 Wine: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Rosso: The Great Rosso Mystery!

Unfortunately, there is no indication on the label what grapes are used in this red blend Rosso I purchased at the winery this week. Not only that there is no “Rosso” wine on their website but there is a Rosso Cabernet yet its bottle picture does not say “Rosso Cabernet” but “Rosso”. Let’s assume, if we can recover from this dizziness, we are drinking the Rosso described on the website. In that case it is a blend of 40% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Syrah, 9% Cabernet Franc and 4% Pinot Noir. Not to flog a dead horse but if the wine is described as Rosso Cabernet on the website why are only two grapes comprising the blend in the Cabernet family?

In face of this dizzying confusion let us try a 2021 Rosso as described on the bottle in front of me.

Aroma: A good dose of blueberry and blackberry complimented by black licorice and plum.

Palate: Moderate creeping tannins. Again quite like the 2021 Merlot with a pleasant if not enticing aroma which on the palate more or less disappears. Some of the fruit leaks weakly into the palate.

Personality: I am a bit of everything that fails to translate into much of anything worth remembering. At least with the 2021 Merlot the Merlot character was lurking and identifiable. There is no identifiable variety you can trace in this wine.

Price: $20.15 CDN (Ontario).

Food Pairing: Let’s hide under “a Friday night wine”.

Cellarbility: Nada.

RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 83/100.

(Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Rosso, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Riverview Cellars Estate Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, 750 mL, 12%).

RKS Literature: A Massive Vista of My Total Ignorance (J.P. Donleavy)

“In the front gate of Trinity. At least this is a bit professional with all these notices tacked up here. Must admit to an overwhelming fear when I think of exams. I hear these students say they haven’t done a scrap of work when their eyes are bloodshot. But me. I see a massive vista of my total ignorance. The weeks left before the little white paper. Can’t afford failure. A man like me has to get through. Must have my offices of the law where I come in at ten o’clock and hang my hat. And when they come in to see me I smile with reassurance. A great thing, that, in the law.”

J.P. Donleavy, “The Ginger Man”, 1955.

RKS 2024 Wine: The Great Ontario Merlot Search Continues: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Merlot

Finding great Ontario Cabernet Franc is not that difficult. The same can’t be said for Merlot. Most of the time it is bland. Merlot from Niagara’s Two Sisters and Featherstone Estate are bright beacons for Ontario Merlot.

So what about the 2021 Merlot from Riverview Estate Winery? The back label states it has been aged in a combination of French and American oak for two years. Deft use of oak seems to bless cooler climate Merlot whether from Ontario or New York.

Aroma: Blackberry, plum, cranberry, black cherry with some very minor chocolate notes. No fear on my part in proceeding further. It has some character on the nose.

Palate: Moderate tannins that come on slowly. Unfortunately most of the fruit on the nose has gone AWOL. Some acerbic cherry and blackberry trapped in peppery sourness. There is a hint of excellence but it is a hint and does not nimbly transcend into reality.

Personality: Was it Marlon Brando in “The Waterfront” that said “I coulda been a contender!” I suppose that’s me.

Food Match: To borrow an LCBO euphemism this is a “Friday night wine”.

Cellarbility: Nada.

Price: $20.15 CDN (Ontario).

RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 84/100.

(Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Merlot, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Riverview Cellars Estate Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, 750 mL, 12%).