20/08/2024 - In their documentary, Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson lead us on a heartfelt road trip after Filip’s father hits retirement age

Since its national premiere this March, Sweden’s The Last Journey [+see also:
trailer
film profile] has become the top-grossing domestic documentary ever, in a country where the genre has quite a proud and prestigious tradition. This sensational success may partly stem from the popularity of directors Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson, aka “Filip & Fredrik”, a television staple for over 20 years, creating and hosting humorous shows of the barmy and boisterous sort.

Paradoxically, a reflective and insightful sensitivity is occasionally surprisingly evident within the duo. In this work, debuting internationally in the Nordic Focus section of the 52nd Norwegian International Film Festival at Haugesund, it is wholeheartedly present.

It all starts, literally, at home, as Filip’s father, Lars, hits retirement age. For four decades, this dearly beloved French teacher has enlightened and enriched generations of students, bringing Gallic culture into the classroom, enhancing his lectures with singing, playing and ratatouille (“the best in Europe”), at times sporting a beret and a tricolore-coloured shirt. And he aims to indulge in more play. “The French call it le troisième âge – the third age,” he muses at his goodbye party. “I hope it starts the second I walk out the door.”

But Lars copes badly with no longer having to show up for work (ie, being of use) and just sits around the house, an ailing shadow of his former self, “a little under the weather”, which, to the rest of the family, registers as proper depression. It’s now that Filip, aided by his creative partner Fredrik, devises a cunning plan: to bring Dad down to Beaulieu-sur-Mer, the favourite Riviera resort of many a yesteryear family holiday trip. Mission: to recreate those yesteryears as closely as possible, almost time-travelling back to a good place in life (not unlike Good Bye Lenin! [+see also:
trailer
interview: Wolfgang Becker
film profile]). They buy a used Renault 4 and set off with Dad kindly yet resolutely put in the front passenger seat, himself sceptical yet slightly intrigued. The camera is along for the ride, and a road movie is in the making, with its fair share of qualms and mishaps along the way, but ultimately, it emerges as a complete piece of work – as both a film and a mission.

Memorable moments include Lars being literally pushed across the French border, exclaiming, “Vive la France!”, Lars visiting the grave of George Brassens, singing, “Les copains d'abord” and having a relaxed talk about death (“It doesn’t scare me; I’m preparing for it”) and Lars enjoying a heated row in traffic (“French freedom!”). He is truly the film’s secret weapon, and everyone, just like all those generations of students, has been falling head over heels for the indestructible charm and big heart of Lars Hammar.

Indeed, he may well be heading for Swedish cinema history. Thus far, his relatively few teacher colleagues on the scene have been decidedly disagreeable: Caligula, the Latin teacher in the Bergman-scripted Frenzy, was a downright sadist, and the hapless Sören in Jan Troell’s Berlin-winning Who Saw Him Die? hates his job. But now there’s Lars. In this respect, let’s call him a form of vengeance, brimming with love, passion, sweetness and affection.

The Last Journey is a Swedish production staged by Nexiko AB, in co-production with Nordisk Film and RMV Film and SVT.