The Last Journey

Swedish TV host and first-time filmmaker Filip Hammar takes his father on a road trip. But what starts as a journey down memory lane becomes an emotional rollercoaster for the filmmaker, as he understands what is lost through the ravages of age.

Popular TV host, podcaster and author Filip Hammar takes his 80-year-old father Lars on a road trip to revisit the places they went on holiday when Filip was young. Lars has been retired from teaching for almost 15 years. Recently, minor ailments have found him
increasingly reticent to leave his house. It’s his wife Tiina who contacts Filip to suggest something should be done. But the road trip transforms into a more profound experience for Filip, as he realises that his father’s physical being is in a state of gradual decline, which no amount of exercise, activity or caring can reverse.

Filip, along with his co-director Fredrik Wikingsson (who are famous in Sweden for their shows) have crafted a beautiful portrait of a father-son relationship – an often-joyous road movie with staged interludes, recreating moments from Lars and Filip’s past. The Last Journey is also a celebration of teachers and the seismic change they can bring to their students’ lives. Lars may have lost some of his energy and physical ability, but his wit and compassion are a constant. As is Filip’s love for his father, which radiates throughout this touching film.

– Ian Haydn Smith

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