The Last Journey

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The Last Journey

2024

1h 31m

Documentary

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89%

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18 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Selected as Sweden's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, "The Last Journey" is the most-watched documentary in Swedish history. When Lars Hammar, after 40 years as a beloved French teacher in Köping, retires, he envisions a delightful "third age" with travel, wine, and experiences together with his wife Tiina. But it doesn't turn out as he had hoped. Instead of indulging in life's pleasures, Lars becomes increasingly passive and lacking in willpower at home in his leather armchair, to the great frustration and despair of both Tiina and their son Filip. That's when Filip gets an idea -- to take his frail old father to his beloved France and let him revisit the places he has loved most in life. By retracing the same road trip the family used to take when Filip was a child and secretly orchestrating some of life's most delightful moments, he hopes to reignite Lars' zest for life. With the help of his best friend Fredrik, some hefty doses of optimism and creativity, and an old orange Renault 4, the adventure can begin!

Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

What you might not expect is quite how much the journey is played like a drama.

Jun 27, 2025

Full Review

Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

And speaking of weeping … sweet Lord! The film builds to the kind of devastating sequence that doesn’t just gently jerk some tears but grabs them and yanks them out relentlessly until you’ve collapsed in a heap on the floor, wailing...

Rated: 4/5

Jun 24, 2025

Full Review

Danny Leigh

Financial Times

The movie is a crowd-pleasing record of a father-son relationship in the shadow of old age, made with a large gloop of sentiment and the pranky comic energy of Saturday night TV.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 24, 2025

Full Review

Chris Wasser

Sunday Independent (Ireland)

Hilarious and heartbreaking, The Last Journey is supposed to be a documentary about an elderly man learning to love life again. But really, it’s a gorgeous non-fiction comedy about a son finding out first-hand that time catches up with us all...

Rated: 5/5

Jun 23, 2025

Full Review

Hugo Hernández Valdivia

Cinexcepción

Whether acted or spontaneous, the tribute the son insists on paying to his father is ultimately as moving as it is valuable. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 80/100

Apr 10, 2025

Full Review

KT Mahe

For Your Reference Podcast

Accepting, or struggling to accept, the helplessness of witnessing parents get older proves to be difficult to separate from the intended elevated reality. Moments are understandable but also difficult to watch.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 18, 2025

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Damian O

A real effort of love and making it happen. So many of us say we wish they had done this that the other, after the passing. Trite ‘if onlys’. However, it takes huge courage, conviction, and passion to re in act all the happy times with the ultimate reminiscent bucket list at the last moment of life. An inspirational demonstration of love, respect and devotion.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/21/25

Full Review

T M

Emotional, funny, thought provoking, and relatable - especially for us oldies!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/19/25

Full Review

Marianna M

This is such a beautiful, authentic and moving movie. It was such a privilege to be given the opportunity to observe the love that can exist between a father and son. I was also delighted to see a friendship between two males that was heartening. It made me laugh and cry. One of the most memorable movies I have seen in many years.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/04/25

Full Review

Rox A

Sometimes is very hard to accept the truth. Our parents are getting older however their love and feelings will never change. Very emotional movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/28/25

Full Review

Renee M

This is the most beautiful documentary. Watching the son finally accepting that his father is never going to be full of life again is heart wrenching. It is also incredibly difficult to watch when you’re in your 70s, as aging is confronting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/25

Full Review

Jim R

Great film - I was totally entranced, to the extent I forgot it was a doco!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/25

Full Review

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Filip Hammar

Director

Fredrik Wikingsson

Director

Lars Beckung

Producer

Petra Måhl

Producer

Erik Persson

Cinematographer

Erik Vallsten

Cinematographer

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Synopsis

Selected as Sweden's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, "The Last Journey" is the most-watched documentary in Swedish history. When Lars Hammar, after 40 years as a beloved French teacher in Köping, retires, he envisions a delightful "third age" with travel, wine, and experiences together with his wife Tiina. But it doesn't turn out as he had hoped. Instead of indulging in life's pleasures, Lars becomes increasingly passive and lacking in willpower at home in his leather armchair, to the great frustration and despair of both Tiina and their son Filip. That's when Filip gets an idea -- to take his frail old father to his beloved France and let him revisit the places he has loved most in life. By retracing the same road trip the family used to take when Filip was a child and secretly orchestrating some of life's most delightful moments, he hopes to reignite Lars' zest for life. With the help of his best friend Fredrik, some hefty doses of optimism and creativity, and an old orange Renault 4, the adventure can begin!

Director: Filip Hammar, Fredrik Wikingsson
Producer: Lars Beckung, Petra Måhl
Production Co: Nexiko
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Swedish
Runtime: 1h 31m