The Last September (1998)

42% of critics liked it
(24 reviews)
38% of users liked it
(750 ratings)

Love, politics, and class at once bring together and tear apart an extended family in this period drama. In 1920, Ireland is in the midst of a political upheaval, as upper class Anglo-Irish Protestants are driven from the country by the nation's increasingly vocal wishes Irish Catholic majority. Sir… More Love, politics, and class at once bring together and tear apart an extended family in this period drama. In 1920, Ireland is in the midst of a political upheaval, as upper class Anglo-Irish Protestants are driven from the country by the nation's increasingly vocal wishes Irish Catholic majority. Sir Richard Naylor (Michael Gambon) and his wife Lady Myra (Maggie Smith) are wealthy members of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy who slowly realize the life they've known in County Cork is coming to an end. Living with the Naylors are their financially-embarrassed friends Hugo and Francie Montmorency (Lambert Wilson and Jane Birkin); Marda Norton (Fiona Shaw), another friend who was one involved with Hugo; their nephew Laurence (Jonathan Slinger), a student at Oxford; and their niece Lois (Keeley Hawes). Lois is infatuated with Gerald (David Tennat), a British officer helping to mind the Naylors' property, though Myra believes he's beneath Lois' station; however, she's also keenly attracted to Connolly (Gary Lydon), an IRA soldier who is hiding in a mill on the estate. The Last September was based on the novel by Elizabeth Bowen. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Deborah Warner
Written By: John Banville
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Apr 21, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Sep 26, 2000
Studio: Trimark

Critic Reviews

Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Expends so much effort looking good and creating a dreamy atmosphere that its makers seem not to care about maintaining narrative coherence or building emotional resonance.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Slow, stately, and boring.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
Absolutely dreadful -- boring, boring, boring.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
An entrancing film about yearning.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Such a good cast, such a dull movie!!
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"The Last September" takes place in 1920 in Ireland, where Lois(Keeley Hawes) is coming of age as a member of the ruling Anglo-Irish ruling class while Ireland is gaining its independence. This is not good news as far as her family is concerned,… More
[font=Century Gothic]"The Last September" takes place in 1920 in Ireland, where Lois(Keeley Hawes) is coming of age as a member of the ruling Anglo-Irish ruling class while Ireland is gaining its independence. This is not good news as far as her family is concerned, considering they will probably have to soon vacate the premises but they are acting as if nothing is the matter. In fact, they invite their free-spirited relation, Marda(Fiona Shaw), for the weekend.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Last September" has little plot and concerns itself more with place and time setting the mood but the movie is too similar to "Rules of the Game" and "May Fools" for it to be successful. It wastes a very good cast which includes Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon and Jane Birkin.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]At the heart of the movie are issues of identity and class. The ruling class identifies themselves as Irish even though the native population disagrees and thinks of them as English.[/font]
Sunil J

Just moody and a bit messy. It could have been interesting and some of the actors made it worth checking out but it was pretty badly executed.