Last Cab to Darwin

Seen at the Roxy Cinema, Nowra NSW

Bea says: I knew very little about this one except that it was a current Australian film, which I always like to support, and that it had a good soundtrack (a recommendation from a friend) - thanks to Ed Kuepper, who did the music.  I had no idea that the film was about euthanasia.

It is also about ageing, loneliness, friendship and partnership, death and journeying through life - all themes I am interested in and relate to, so I enjoyed it.  Without giving too much away, Michael Caton plays Rex, an ageing cab driver from Broken Hill, who is diagnosed with cancer, in an advanced stage.  Rex lives alone, but has an enduring relationship with his neighbour Polly, played by Ningali Lawford, which the diagnosis makes him both explore more and run away from simultaneously, as he drives his cab to Darwin to seek out a doctor who is looking for people to pilot her new euthanasia mechanism.  I won't say any more except that the issue is presented in a relatively balanced way, and Rex is able to complete his journey fully.

I am a fan of the road trip genre, and loved this journey into the interior of Australia, quite a lot of it through my own home state of South Australia.  Rex picks up some companions on the way, and although they are rather stereotypical, in the case of Tilly, played by Mark Coles Smith, and convenient, in the case of Julie, played by Emma Hamilton, they do add interest to that section of film.  Later, Jacki Weaver's portrayal of Dr Farmer was interesting - it was difficult to entirely understand the character's motivations.

This screenplay was adapted from a stage play and it certainly had that depth to it, and left us needing to talk, and so we did, sitting on the riverside in Nowra.  It is a good film that makes that happen afterwards. The only things that did slightly clang for me were the music - I related to it, but I thought it was too young for Rex, and the rather poorly developed attempt to address race relations - Polly's character was better developed but Tilly's was very stereotypical indeed, although did enable the film to point out a number of issues in Australian society.

Recommended.
***1/2

Cecil says: Actually Bea has said it all, really. It was a very engrossing film, yet again a film about a long journey both metaphorically and physically, and those sorts of films usually set us up for a pensive and reflective conversation afterwards.

Death is really hard to deal with, both as the one involved personally (what a great line from Rex, when he says: 'It's really hard to kill yourself') and the loved ones who are about to lose somebody precious. The film really gets inside this topic that just won't go away, ever, in anyone's life.

Also a great portrayal of travelling in Australia's deepest interior. The roads I took in 1986 are all covered now, but I can well remember how hair-raising it was to travel, even in a big Greyhound bus, up the road from Adelaide to Darwin on uncovered roads, and one of the most alarming moments is when old Rex's car has its windscreen blown out by a passing truck.

I felt very moved by this film and give it a resounding ****