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''Le Dernier Vol'' (''The Last Flight'') is a 2009 French love drama film.

The story takes place in 1930s Africa, in a desert part of [[UsefulNotes/TheFrenchColonialEmpire French colonies]], where French soldiers try to deal with the conflict with the native Tuareg people. Marie Vallières de Beaumont (Creator/MarionCotillard), [[LadyOfAdventure an adventurer]] and record-breaking aviatrix, lands in the middle of the small military base and asks its commander to help her find Bill Lancaster, her lover and flight partner, who had a catastrophe somewhere near. At the same time, Lieutenant Antoine Chauvet (Creator/GuillaumeCanet) finds himself severely conflicted with the commander who blames his peaceful approach to the Tuareg for the misfortunes associated with the natives' rebellion. Even when she is refused the escort by the commander, De Beaumont is determined to find Bill no matter what, and Chauvet decides to join her despite his initial dislike of the pilot. Among the hardships, sharp [[BothSidesHaveAPoint worldview discussions]] and a lot of {{UST}} ensue between the two.

The film's African setting, [[SceneryPorn panoramic landscapes]] and impressive music - along with its problematic love story - bring to mind ''Film/OutOfAfrica'' (also, both films are adaptations of the novels, and both are criticized for introducing [[AdaptationExpansion too much romantic elements]] to the original story). In reality, the woman who accompanied Lancaster in his famous flight from England to Australia was Jessie 'Chubbie' Miller. Apart from their shared passion for flying, they had indeed a love affair, but its true ending was [[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article1028612.ece somewhat less romantic]].

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!! This film provides examples of:

* ActionGirl: Marie. She is able to fly the plane, ride the camel and fire a signal flare despite its being 1930s.
* AfricanChant: There is one - without the jungle or drums (as this is a desert), but it is a chant and it is African.
* AllDesertsHaveCacti: Averted. All the time, not a cactus in sight.
* CommanderContrarian: Antoine's commander is this both to Antoine and Marie.
* CrossingTheDesert: The majority of the plot.
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:they fail to find Lancaster, even though his crash took place very near the place when they were looking for him]].
* TheFilmOfTheBook by Sylvain Estibal.
* HeartbrokenBadass: Marie.
* IntimateHealing: including the KissOfLife.
* TheLostLenore: a rare male version.
* LoveDodecahedron: Antoine, Marie, Bill, Amana, and Bill's wife.
* MightyWhitey: Subverted. Antoine is the only French soldier with whom the Tuareg wants to talk, but his efforts to peacefully end the rebellion result in the death of his comrade.
* PoliticallyCorrectHistory: the characters more than once discuss WhiteMansBurden in this way.
* ThemePairing: InUniverse. Bill and Marie are connected by their love of flying.
* {{UST}}: Between Marie and Antoine. Harsh weather conditions eventually force them to resolve some of it.

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