Interview with “The Last Journey” Co-Directors/Writers, Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson

Full transcript of Interview with “The Last Journey” Co-Directors/Writers, Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson.

0:04KT: Filip and Fredrik. Thank you so much for your time and welcome to the For Your Reference podcast.

0:09Fredrik: Thank you for having us. It's a, it's an honor to be in Australia talking to people like you. It's an unfathomable when we started this journey or whatever.

0:18KT: Well, speaking of global worldwide travel from Sweden to Sydney two nights ago, there was a screening and a Q&A as well. It must be really exciting, but probably also very tiring. How are you guys feeling right now?

0:33Filip: Let's I try to ignore that that aspect of it. I can I can go home and be tired, you know That's intoxicating to be here as well. But it's but of course we did a film that we've done stuff before in Sweden So, uh, it's not that we expected a, a success all time in, in Sweden, but we kind of knew that some people would, would buy, you know, tickets and, and go see it. But that, well, we have yet to see if any Australians will buy tickets. But, but I'm just saying like, to, to be able to go abroad where people have no idea who we are and, and sort of. Get these reactions, really, you know, it's been very rewarding and people, you know, it resonates with people. And that is something we've never experienced. You know, when you're like, okay, this, this film can actually travel, people can relate.

1:20Filip: And that's something with the Universal Pictures is that we start to roll it out in Australia. And if it doesn't fly here

1:28Fredrik: If it fails here, a lot of people are going to get their heads chopped off. And this wonderful journey around the world is over. Yeah, at least we won't be in the country by then. Back to Sweden! Back to Sweden.

1:38KT: Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. And you know, in the film, there's a moment where Filip, you record your dad, like his retirement day. Um, but I guess I would love to hear when did, when did it become between the two of you of like, let's do this, we want to make a film. about this. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. But where did it actually start of this was going to be something

2:02Filip: I really remember. I mean, we had a phone call just as friends. I and I told Fredrik for some reason, I remember I was walking up and down my driveway and I happened to live in L.A. But and then I, uh, And then I just mentioned this trip because I said, I need to go back home and, and, and, you know, do something and, and, you know, my dad loves France and maybe that's how I, that's how I, you know, we'll be able to cheer him up a bit. We also, pretty fast, we're like, what if we bring cameras?

2:32Fredrik: There was something I felt, because I know also that Filip's dad is such a unique character, he's a very kind, good man, but also eccentric and funny, and unique, so I, and if you add the fact that probably a lot of people can relate to the sadness of seeing a loved one get older, there might be something universal or, you know, that people can resonate with, so if we can bring a small crew that won't get in the way of Lasse's experience, Maybe we can share this story with others and they can be inspired by

3:01Filip: He's not a he's not a narcissist not at all, but he's mildly You know, he still loves telling stories. And I knew that he had it, you know, in him still. Uh, so we kind of knew that he's not You know, there are, like Fredrik usually says, there are lots of good human beings out there, but not, you cannot, you know, you cannot make documentaries about everyone. It's tough. You need to have that little extra dimension. He has this X factor. It's an unusual X factor. I don't think he would, you know, advance So whether it is, you know, he walks in and they say, yeah, you have something, but for this context, he's incredible.

3:40KT: Yeah, and I think it's those small sort of moments, right? That you can just live in it, even though it's on a big scale. It's, you know, a major studio film. There are some very nice and beautiful moments. And I think something that's very real, and I hope all of us in some time in our lives, we can have a very real friendship like the two of you. Um, there's a lot of love there. But you guys also love, you know, making fun of each other and playing around and teasing each other as well. And I would love to hear, I guess, so many years you guys have been working together and been friends together. How was it working through? This is a film that we're making as well. How was it working in that?

4:20Filip: You just said that it's important because it's almost like, yes, me and Fredrik are close friends. But that my dad is almost, it all almost turns it into the trio, you know, because Fredrik has known my dad as long as he's known me. So I think that was, that was the plan. You know, we knew, all of us, that it's okay to make fun of each other

4:38Fredrik: There's a small little moment in the film when Filip's dad talk about all these beautiful climate zones you drive through when you drive through France. And I know there are at tops two climate zones. Maybe not even. If even. Yeah, maybe just one climate zone. It's not that big of a country. It's not Australia. So I have to make fun of him when he says these outlandish things. But, and we also knew we wanted to have a very natural tone in the film. And if, if two friends are out driving in a car, they're going to make fun, they're going to riff with each other and have fun with each other, if they're friends. And we wanted to keep that in the film to make it as funny So it's a heavy topic. Some, you know, you know, somebody growing older and, you know, approaching death. We wanted this to be a funny film as well as life affirming.

5:19Filip: Because even, yeah, because he is depressed and, and But at times you can still see that he's very much alive and those moments where that happened, you can just see it's not maybe that his life substantially changed because of this. But I think I live off those moments when he just smiles, you know, for a couple of seconds or for a few minutes. What you remember when he's like suddenly start talking about a parrot who dipped his beak into a beer in the 60s in a hotel in France. I mean, that's what. To me, those are some of the, you know, most beautiful moments in my life when we were in that car.

6:00Filip: And, you know, we're lucky enough that we have to film a lot because not every, every, you know, there could be a few hours where we're not that talking into each other, but, but those are, that's incredible. There was a lot of love in the air, I have to say.

6:15KT: Mm hmm. And, uh, I'm pretty sure it's because of this film. I have been playing Harry Belafonte on repeat since watching this film. Oh, yeah. Were you familiar with him before?

6:26Filip: Is he? Because sometimes I feel like, does anyone know about Harry Belafonte these days? You know?

6:33KT: Shake, shake, shake, Señora. Come on now. We all know.

6:37Filip: Okay.

6:39KT: It was also very beautiful.

6:40Filip: That's why my dad, well he also envied him, you know, because my mom thought Harry Belafonte was the most beautiful man in the world. So there was a little bit of jealousy involved. No, it wasn't wrong.

6:50Fredrik: No, no, no.

6:52Filip: And started to really fight about that. That's basically what the story is about. But he's, there have been moments in my life where he got even more jealous. When he's like, what is it about Harry Belafonte? I think it's like, they have nothing in common, my dad and Harry Belafonte. Well, they were both good human beings. He was a good human being, I think, Harry Belafonte.

7:11KT: Yeah, and I guess because I don't want to spoil too much in the film, but there is a particular scene where you talk about, um, you know, recreating and, you know, bringing a sort of impact with perfectly timed sort of moments, you know, you know, where Fredrik is on one side, you're on one side of the city, just trying to make it work. And I think that's one of the moments of like, if we had the budget and the resources we would all love to do, you know, for our parents and our loved ones, like you said, Filip, just to make them smile and to see, feel yourself smile as well. It's.

7:40Filip: We also wanted to stay true to, to his life and my life because, I mean, what we're trying to do in the film is like make him re-experience the happy times in his life, you know, the best moments in his life. At least that's what I think, you know, but he was standing on that balcony. It in France and we go down there and we, we, we stay there again and I immediately, I, you know, I, I just start to reminisce and that's where he was standing every summer. And at least like 10 times every summer, whenever we had guests, he told that same story, which is not a very good story.

8:17Filip: But, you know, he loved that story and he told it with a lot of confidence back in the day. And, you know, we wanted to add some real originality to the film as well. I think where it's like, Yeah, absolutely. That's also a memory. We could have just gravitated towards let's go to some vineyards and then you do all the French cliches into. I think every family there's a relatability to because every family have those stories, what your parents tell you that are not that good.

8:42Fredrik: But as you say, I mean, we, we realize not everybody can afford it. forward to make this very amped up deluxe version of these trips. But we've had so many emails and stuff from people who have seen the film in Sweden and then made their own like cheaper and more affordable version of this trip. Uh, that might just be to the next town or whatever. But the main thing is it, it inspires some people to reconnect with people, uh, their loved ones. And that's incredible.

9:07Filip: It's almost like when you, at a certain point in life, There's almost a shyness that kicks in with your parents. They're like, they wouldn't ask me. Hey, should I go on it? Would you want to go on a trip with me? It's almost like asking someone out for a date when you're 15 16 years old. You're like, oh, I don't want to do it So it has to come from From the the kids side, I think you know, my dad would never ask me but he or my mom either but it's like that's something to maybe, you know, when people see the film, they can also realize that, hey, need to ask him out for a date, or her out for a date.

9:40Filip: And, uh, but once you do that, it's, it's, it's never a bad investment, so to speak. You know, you will never regret spending time with your parents, I think. Um, it's, it's, it's really, or, or someone else in your family. If you don't hate them, some people do, but

9:57KT: some people do and some people need to remain on the other side probably.

10:01Filip: Um,

10:06KT: it was interesting, even at the start of the interview, you guys were making a joke about if it doesn't go well in Australia, I think it's quite funny to see the different sort of like, not just mannerisms, but like, I guess, Swedish humor. And I guess it would be good to know for like, cause. I'm not Swedish unless, unless a Swedish Harry Belafonte was around the time I was born in Sweden. Um, but I, I guess for our non Swedish friends and lovers, is there any sort of, is there a way that you can encapsulate? Cause it seems like there's a lot of like drama, tragedy and lightness as well. Is there a way that you could describe like Swedish humor as well as The Last Journey?

10:43Fredrik: It's very similar to Australian humour. I mean What is Australian humour? It's very similar to Swedish humour. So that's the best way I can I mean, I mean, I think that this is not I mean, it's hard. Everybody is an individual and people are different, but I think We wanted to make a film where the laughter and the tears are very close. They can be in the same scene sometimes. Like you can see something that's super sad and then 15 seconds later somebody says something funny. And there is a great release in being able to laugh. And maybe you laugh even more because you just You wept maybe 20 seconds ago. So for us those feelings they can coexist and maybe should coexist because that's life so

11:21Filip: maybe more than it being, you know, Swedish humor, I think the the movie sort of uh Works for people who have our our sense of humor in a way where it doesn't matter where you live Because you could probably come from any country If you, I mean, we, we, we don't like jokes, really, me and Fredrik. We don't, we, we, that's why you do documentaries instead. We're trying to find comedy in, in real life, you know? And, and, and

11:50Fredrik: it's number one hate. That's our pet peeve. And if somebody introduces themselves as a stand-up comedian, we'll leave the room immediately. Be careful, Fredrik. Yeah, I know. I should. Maybe she's a comedian.

12:01KT: No, I understand too. I understand too. Because even. The idea of like uploading content and hashtag comedy is so icky to me. Yeah, it's also like that, but that's how people find it.

12:11Fredrik: Yeah. And also like sound companies come here and this is going to be funny. It's going to be funny. It's going to be funny. And whereas real life doesn't work that way. So that feels like a construction to me always. Whereas this film, we try to be close to And the celebrity in a disaster area, whatever you want to call it.

12:27KT: Yeah. I love that.

12:29Filip: I think also failure, you know, when we fail, I think that that's something, I think I love just in general, you'd love talking to people who can, you know, laugh at themselves as well, who can, who can really, you know, even if they fail at something, they can be open about it or, and I think that's, but that takes, I think in a film where we're also obviously in front of the camera. We need to do that as well. And that's hopefully who we are as human beings as well. But you know, if you ask someone Their life with you, then you need to be, you know, be open to do that yourself as well, you know, and then I think that that's where me and Freddie, we love to be in that sense of those rooms where you and I know.

13:14KT: I agree with that too. Like lots of funny things happen at funerals. I have a family I only see at funerals. I don't think they exist outside of funerals, but I want to thank you. I want to thank you so much for your time and wrap up with that question. Oh, thank you. Um, where we finish off our reviews with a recommendation. So what would you pair with The Last Journey as a double feature?

13:35Fredrik: Uh, maybe Sideways? It's a weird combo, but both There's like no written jokes there either. No. No, it's like, that's a funny drama to us, and it's about two friends as well. There is no dad involved, of course, but a lot of other hijinks, so We just recently rewatched it, even though it's 20 years old, it still holds up, so it's gotta be Sideways.

13:54Filip: I think mostly we watch all the documentaries. That's really where we, at least when, very rare with something like Sideways where you actually laugh. I don't know, you mentioned a film the other day that I almost forgot that it existed. It's called Dig!, which is one of the funniest films ever. A music documentary, which is incredible. But I mean, that's about a guy though, who doesn't have that. He cannot really laugh at himself,

14:17Fredrik: but if you want one recommendation to pair with The Last Journey, I think Sideways is the perfect match.

14:23KT: Okay, great. I'll grab my wine and my Harry Belafonte T-shirt. All right. Thank you. Thank you so much for your time. Lovely talking to you. Thank you so much.