Credited cast: | |||
Niamh Algar | ... | Mary Sullivan | |
Clare Barrett | ... | Teresa | |
Samuel Bottomley | ... | Louis Murphy | |
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Cian Boylan | ... | Pianist |
Brian Cox | ... | Father Reilly | |
Luke Hanlon | ... | Peter | |
Michiel Huisman | ... | Daniel Murphy | |
Sarah Caitriona Lynch | ... | Violinist (as Sarah Lynch) | |
Louise Mathews | ... | Farm Mum | |
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Kevin McCormack | ... | Teenager's Dad |
Michael McElhatton | ... | Frank Delaney | |
Colm Meaney | ... | Detective Donall Crowley | |
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Brian Matthews Murphy | ... | Paul |
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Donna Anita Nikolaisen | ... | Self - Air Hostess (credit only) |
Jim Norton | ... | Padraig |
A fateful exchange on a flight from New York to Ireland has complicated consequences for Daniel Murphy. He's left in charge of a corpse, the body of someone he never knew. He is persuaded to take on the challenge of getting an environmentally friendly cardboard coffin from his family home in Clonakilty to Rathlin Island by his autistic younger brother Louis and Mary, a flighty young mortician with her own agenda.
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.