LAST RIDE

Australia, 2009, 90 minutes, Colour.
Hugo Weaving, Tom Russell, John Brumpton, Anita Heagh.
Directed by Glendyn Ivin.

Last Ride is a story about father and son (with echoes of such films as A Perfect World and the Russian film, The Return).

The screenplay is based on a novel by Denise Young and was written by Mac Gudgeon, a veteran screen and television writer. The director, Glendyn Ivin, won the Golden Palm for his short film, Cracker Bag, in 2003.

The film was supported by the Adelaide Festival and South Australian Film Corporation and this film utilises South Australian locations beautifully. The film is a road movie, a father and son moving from the city, travelling to Adelaide. However, the father is a petty criminal (reminiscent of David Wenham in The Boys). He seems to have few redeeming features, oppressed by his father when growing up, having spent time in jail for petty crimes, learning a grudge against the world in prison – but having some moments of care for his son, even while he neglects him.

The film is a journey by bus, stolen car, van and there are various encounters of a cross-section of Australian outback society, including a former girlfriend who is a teacher, an Aboriginal park ranger, various people who serve at country stores, brawlers in a bar.

Hugo Weaving gives an intensity and nuanced performance to the character of Kev. Tom Russell (The Tree) is very good and natural as the little boy, Chook. John Brumpton appears as Max, an enigmatic figure in their lives, who, through flashbacks, is revealed as an ambiguous villain and the reason for the father and son fleeing the city to Adelaide.

The film has echoes of contemporary concerns about abuse of children.

1. A father-and-son journey, relationship, in the Australian outback context?

2. The title, for Kev, a fatalistic journey?

3. A road movie, the scenes in the city, the countryside, the country towns, the desert and mountains, the lake? The range of scenery, the style of photography? Beauty and ruggedness? The musical score?

4. The structure of the film, linear, following Kev and Chook’s journey, the various aspects of the travel? The mystery about what initially happened to cause the journey? The gradual information, through Chook’s flashbacks? The shock of the reason?

5. The introduction to Chook and Kev, at home, the car yard? Max and Kev, friends? Playing with Chook? The travel, the father-and-son relationship, the difficulties? Chook and his reminiscences and concern about Max and his injuries?

6. The of Kev, in jail, meeting Marianne, the maths teacher? The relationship? Getting out of jail, the relationship with Marianne, Kev and his temper, beating her, her leaving? His memories of his father, stern, being left outside to walk and fend for himself? His relationship with Chook, memories of his mother? His taking Chook away, the travel in the bus, shopping in the country town, finding Marianne’s house, the talk, the meal, the sexual encounter with her? His continuing the journey, stealing cars, going to the camp, the Aboriginal guard and his warning, staying and having tea, reminiscing? The Aboriginal element in the heritage? The Afghans and the stories about the early Afghans with their camels? The human touches? Going to the bar, picking the fight, his being bashed? Leaving Chook in the school, without food? Stealing the car, Chook hungry, going into the shops, having only a certain amount of cash, the demands of the woman behind the counter? The second shop, Chook and his shoplifting, Kev bashing the man behind the counter? Going to the trailer camp, robbing the caravans? The truck, the pursuit? Chook and the swimming, Kev pushing him into the water, trying to teach him to float? The later lesson and Chook enjoying floating? Kev and his temper, his language, with Chook, his anger at Chook talking about proper fathers, making him get out of the car, walk across the lake? The alienation? Some moments of reconciliation, Chook informing the police, the helicopter and the cars, getting the rifle, shooting himself?

7. Chook at ten, his life, wanting to know about his mother? His dependence on his father? Marianne and wanting to stay with her, the memories of Max, playing, the sheep, the final situation, commenting on Max’s loneliness and not hurting him? Kev and his fight with Max, killing him? Chook and his not wanting to believe that Max was dead, wanting to phone? Max as a friend? How sinister or not? His behaviour with Chook, in the bed? The contemporary awareness of sexual abuse of children?

8. Chook and the trip, aware of his father, his playfulness, money issues, the school and his being hungry, Marianne, the school and his being alone, the camp and the Aboriginal man, the lake and his being afraid of the water, father as role model, walking across the lake, Kev reminiscing about where he might have been conceived? The final alienation, into the water and floating, the phone, the photo, telling the police, telling his father, giving him the gun? His future?

9. Marianne, the teacher, her past, Kev and his threats, her love for him yet his violence?

10. The range of characters along the way, Australia and the outback: the shopkeepers, the men in the bars, the truckers, the parks, the trailers, the Aboriginal guards?

11. A slow-burning film with a strong cumulative impact?