First Love, Last Rites (film)

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 40% based on reviews from 10 critics.^[7]

Criticisms hinged on the film’s narrative and heavy-handed symbolism.^[2][3][8] AllMovie opined, "The lack of a sufficient narrative doesn't help as the two characters become unable to communicate with each other, resulting in a heavily symbolic climax with a pesky rat. After the initial scene is set, First Love, Last Rites becomes almost painful to watch as it heads toward the inevitable conclusion, but at least it contains lush scenery and convincing atmosphere."^[9]

Emanuel Levy of Variety wrote the film "is good at illustrating how initial thrills of freedom and lust gradually turn into confusion, fear and anxiety", and "It’s always a challenge to make an excitingly dramatic film about ennui, a task that is only partially achieved by helmer Peretz", but ”In switching the locale of McEwan’s short story from an industrial seaside town in England to the hot Bayou country, Peretz…has also aborted the poignancy, irony and black humor that the original material possessed."^[10]

Though the story was criticized, the film’s atmosphere and visuals were praised.^[11] Stephen Holden wrote of The New York Times wrote, "Although the geographical shift makes for a film that is steeped in local color (this world of ruddy tattooed fishermen and houses on stilts and crushing humidity is so richly evoked you can almost smell the thick summer air), its main characters seem distinctly out of place."^[12] Ethan Alter of Film Journal complimented Jesse Peretz’ camera work and said he "has designed some very nice shots and his interesting use of color highlights his background in music-videos", but said the plot "bored him to tears" and criticized the lack of chemistry between its two leads.^[3]

• First Love, Last Rites at IMDb
• First Love, Last Rites at Rotten Tomatoes
• First Love, Last Rites at Box Office Mojo