Directed by Francesco Sossai, The Last One for the Road tells the story of Carlobianchi (Sergio Romano) and Doriano (Pierpaolo Capovilla), two endearing but penniless ex-cons who recognize that there is more behind them in their lives than ahead of them. But they are reminded of the missing haul of their old friend Genio (Andrea Pennacchi), a man who supposedly buried his windfall before disappearing. So, with money on the mind, they embark on a journey to retrieve Genio’s missing loot and find the financial success that has eluded them. Things become more complicated though when they meet Giulio (Filippo Scotti), a young man that becomes an unlikely passenger on their journey into the past. Together, the three will challenge each other to dream about what could have been (and maybe still could be) while sharing stories that might change the way they see the world.
In Last One for the Road, Sossai finds joy in the midst of his middling characters. At the beginning, each one of these three men may be in a different headspace but they are all facing a crisis of the soul. In many ways, this makes Last One an odd mixture of ‘coming of age’ drama and ‘road trip’ comedy.
Sossai finds something beautiful in the blend of these lost souls. When they come together, the film truly finds something unique. Together, the three travellers turn their road trip into a meaningful, generational exchange. In his youth, Giulio discovers a piece of himself that he didn’t know existed. At the same time, in their later years, the men are able to find new life that had begun to wane. As a result, Sossai’s grounded road trip film almost takes on an element of whimsy. With each exchange, the three men find something missing within themselves by passing a portion of their stories on to the other.
Therein lies the joy of The Last One for the Road. Somehow, this trio becomes a group that feels familiar. Yes, this road trip can be a bit of a slow starter but, once we’re on the journey with the ‘boys’, one can’t help but be glad they joined them.
The Last One for the Road is playing at TIFF ’25. For more information, click here.
