Film No. 14. THE LAST JOURNEY. (2025). 18th Feb.

 

Film No. 14  (2025)  February 18th.  6:30 PM  PALACE Raine Sq, Cinema 6, Perth City.

"Our retirement years were meant to be golden. But he's just sitting there!" (Tiina Hammer tells her son what life is like with her husband Lars who has lost his zest for life).

NOMINEE: Best Documentary (Filip & Fredrik) International Catholic Film Critics Association .

I liked DEN SISTA RESAN (DSR), English title, THE LAST JOURNEY), but when watching it, how do we decide what's contrived and what's real? Well, one doesn't really, but we take a guess, and then in the end, it doesn't matter.

Filip Hammer and Fredrik Wikingsson are Sweden's version of Hamish and Andy (Australia); a fun comedic duo who have grown on a nation (Sweden) and who are generally accepted as harmless, if not slightly "wet". The idea of a documentary depicting one of those comedians (Filip) connecting with his father (Lars) in a way that would move a nation (and beyond), is the idea that drives this partially contrived documentary. Is it more promotional spin for the duo's brand, or a fun vignette to warm the heart? The answer is - it's both. This very entertaining 90 minutes of feature film making is wonderfully humorous, empathetic, thought provoking and most of all, original. And while the boys are key to the road trip, Lars is the star, and they never try to steal his limelight.

We all, as we age, treasure childhood memories of good times, created, with love, by our parents. They may not be there when we'd like to thank them. DSR reminds us to "drink" in all that our parents are to us while they are still with us. 9GUMS.