How ‘Last Tango in Paris’ and the Butter Scene Changed Maria Schneider Forever

Regarded as one of the most infamous sex scenes in cinematic history, ‘Last Tango in Paris’ directed by Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci in 1972 tells the story of a middle-aged man, Paul, and his passionate affair with a young woman, Jeanne, in Paris. The notorious ‘butter scene,’ which was not part of the original script, involved elements that were filmed without the consent of then-19-year-old Maria Schneider. Following the film’s release, Schneider battled drug addiction and mental health issues for years. Her life story has been revisited on the big screen through ‘Being Maria,’ starring Matt Dillon and Anamaría Vartolomei. Directed by French filmmaker Jessica Palud, the movie is based on the memoirs of Vanessa Schneider, Maria’s sister, published in 2018. Matt Dillon emphasized the traumatic nature of the experience, noting that it affected Schneider profoundly throughout her life. The film explores Schneider’s past, highlighting her illegitimate birth to the famous French actor Daniel Daréïo and a Romanian model. ‘Last Tango in Paris’ marked her first leading role. In a 2007 interview, Schneider recalled her hesitations about the film but felt pressured to work with Marlon Brando. She vividly remembered the controversial scene where her character is raped using butter as a lubricant, revealing that the idea came from Brando himself. She described feeling humiliated and violated by both Brando and Bertolucci. Bertolucci admitted in 2013 that he conspired behind Schneider’s back to make the scene more realistic, aiming for an authentic reaction. However, Dillon clarified that what happened was wrong, emphasizing the importance of respecting actors’ boundaries, especially in sensitive scenes. Director Jessica Palud ensured that the recreation of the rape scene was shown from Schneider’s perspective, highlighting how it altered her life forever. This time, the scene was meticulously prepared with the help of an intimacy coordinator, a growing practice in the film industry post-#MeToo movement. Both Dillon and co-star Anamaría Vartolomei expressed comfort during filming, yet Vartolomei admitted to emotional distress while portraying such a violent scene.