As a devoted cinephile with a lifetime of cinematic experiences under my belt, I must say that “The Last Journey” has left a profound and lasting impression on me. This tender road movie is an exquisite portrayal of love, aging, and the indelible impact of teachers in our lives – all wrapped up in a humorous yet heartbreaking package.
As a movie reviewer, I embark on a heartfelt journey with “The Last Journey,” a humorous yet poignant road trip flick that unfolds like no other. This film is a deeply personal portrayal of director Filip Hammar’s profound love for his aging father, Lars, who at 80 years old, is battling the challenges of time.
This life-affirming documentary, with over 400,000 admissions so far in Sweden, smashed box office records and is still playing in cinemas after 32 weeks. As Sweden’s submission for the international feature category, it has a strong chance of being an unexpected contender.
For Hammar and Wikingsson, who initially built their careers as journalists but have since become renowned figures in Sweden due to their long-term collaborations spanning over several decades as unconventional television personalities, podcasters, and authors, are now introducing “The Last Journey.” This production incorporates elements of their signature spontaneity and disorder, along with home movies and family recordings by the Hammar family.
In 2008, Lars, who was still full of vigor, retired from teaching French at the high school in Köping at the age of 66, anticipating a fulfilling “third age.” However, by 2022, he’s been plagued with unexplained discomfort and finds it hard to leave his cozy armchair. His energetic and active wife Tiina confides in Filip that Lars seems to have lost his zest for life.
Filip clings to the misguided belief that he can revive Lars’ health and spirits by returning him to his cherished France. After locating an old Renault 4, their former family car, he persuades a reluctant father to pack up. With Wikingsson, who serves as the voice of reason, in the backseat, they embark on a journey towards Beaulieu-sur-Mer.
Unexpectedly, our long journey doesn’t follow the planned course, making the Renault, capable of reaching 40 miles per hour, the most frequently passed vehicle across Europe. However, during this trip, the camera has an opportunity to showcase its skills, beautifully capturing the autumnal splendor of the surrounding flora, roads, bridges, and skies. Simultaneously, Filip and Frederick, veterans in hosting unique travel shows on TV, maintain their cool demeanor and adapt to the unpredictability.
One of the sweetest aspects of the film, and one which Lars remarks on, is the fact that Filip remembers far more of the family vacation traditions than Lars does. But sometimes Filip goes too far in trying to stage-manage them, as in an awkward scene where he interrupts his father and their elderly French guests while they are enumerating who of their acquaintance is ill and who has died, to try and get him to recount an old story about Harry Belafonte with the flair he remembers.
Despite Lars no longer being the vibrant, energetic father that Filip admires, he remains a wise and practical individual. He’s a humble man with a great sense of humor, and his genuine affection for France and some of its most peculiar quirks is evident.
Occasionally, the most humorous instances arise when Filip and Fredrik attempt to reenact scenarios that Lars previously found amusing. Since French traffic customs once captivated him, they set up a typical scenario using actors. However, locating an annoyed parrot that dips its beak into a beer glass proves challenging.
The most emotionally stirring moment occurs towards the end, featuring a heartfelt surprise staged by Filip and Fredrik on the very beach where Lars had requested his ashes to be spread following his demise. If it fails to move spectators to tears, it will undoubtedly prompt them to call their loved ones.
A buoyant score by Christian Olsson and the incorporation of French language songs by Lar’s favorites Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens suits the material and makes for pleasant listening. The rest of the production credits are fine, including jaunty titles highlighting the main characters and animated maps showing the itinerary.
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2024-10-13 01:16