A Última Viagem

Very enjoyable film from start to finish, beautifully written.

Daniel Murphy (Michiel Huisman) is flying to Ireland for his mother's funeral. He's the only one left to care for his autistic brother Louis (Samuel Bottomley). He needs to go to NYC for a new job but Louis is unwilling to leave home. Added to the complication, the elderly man sitting next to him on the plane dies. Due to a name mix up, Daniel is assumed to be the dead man's next of kin. The brothers are joined by Mary Sullivan (Niamh Algar) on their road trip as they deliver the body to his burial in Northern Ireland. Situation arises that police Detective Donall Crowley (Colm Meaney) is in pursuit of the trio.

The premise is manufactured. The story would be easier to transport their mother rather than a complete stranger. I'm still not sure about connecting the delivery with moving to New York. At its core, this is a simple quirky road movie and I like these actors. I like these actors and these characters. It has the quirkiness of an Irish dark comedy. It's death and sex and all the rest.

Though Samuel Bottomley is not autistic, so far as we know and does not have the same traits as Louis, he portrays and is portrayed in a positive light and it tackles the inherent ablism of society. Though we see a Temple Grandin poster, who though in some circles lorded suggested that a cure should be found for those with higher level support needs that herself which is problematic, he says that no autistic person is the same and there is a narrative about how he should get to decide his future even if he is scared of things others aren't and living alone may be difficult and passing school so also, he still get to live his own life. He isn't seen as babyish but a guy with different needs. Big thumbs up for that aspect. Then we have the awesomeness that is the twisty and turny plot, Colm Meany's face and the differing perspectives and heart rending moment which will make you cry. Mary is a character who is well matched to Louis and Daniel bringing out their beauty and complexity and can be compared to them in this regard too. No character is without a role or some form of basic personality and everybody's morals are on show. Its indie, funny, sweet and a worthwhile watch.

The Last Right: Daniel Murphy (Michael Huisman) is flying home from the US to attend his mother's funeral when it turns out the guy next to him Padraig Murphy (Jim Norton) is bringing his brother back to Ireland to bury him. The quirkiness of this serious comedy kicks in right away as Padraig dies on the flight and has named Daniel as his next of kin. It looks as if Daniel has talked his way out of this quandary and he makes his way to Clonakilty where his brother Louis (Samuel Bottomley) lives. Louis is an autistic teenager still at school and Daniel will now be responsible for him. The corpse of Padraig follows Daniel (via the Garda) and at Louis's urging he agrees to transport the body to Rathlin Island, at the very other end of the Island of Ireland. A road movie ensues as Daniel and Louis are joined by an eccentric mortician, Mary (Niamh Algar) in their journey.

There are perhaps too many odd characters in the film as a Detective Superintendent (Colm Meaney) sets off in pursuit of the trio after a misunderstanding with a pellet gun results in them being perceived as a criminal gang. Serious relationship questions are teased out as Daniel wants Louis to move to the USA but Louisa doesn't wish to lose his girlfriend. An awkward, troubled affair starts to develop between Daniel and Mary. There is no stereotyping of Autism and though Rain Man is referenced it is used to develop a conversation on how there are many points on the spectrum and Louis is an individual with his own strengths. There is also a major plot reveal which influences the viewers understanding of the narrative.

A solid drama/comedy written and directed by Aoife Crehan. 8/10.

Very slow and dull start but I gradually warmed to the characters to really care about what happened. A road trip with a coffin as a man, his autistic brother and a random woman they meet head off to make sure a man gets buried in his rightful place with hapless police in pursuit. Gentle viewing released without little fanfare which is a pity as its a charmer. Samuel Bottemley in particular is excellent. Irish road trip with a bid to Rainman.