Re-teaming with playwright Reg Cribb, he combines humour and emotion to hone in on Rex’s journey, both through the centre of the continent, and in accepting the life he has lived as he approaches his end. (The film is set in the 1990s, when euthanasia was briefly legal in the Northern Territory.)Īfter 2006’s Last Train to Freo and Beneath Hill 60 in 2010, Sims opts for more intimate material for his third stint behind the camera. When he finds out about Darwin doctor Nicole Farmer (Weaver), a right-to-die campaigner in a city that has recently legalised assisted suicide who has a computerised machine that simplifies death down to pressing a button, he drives 3,000 kilometres to secure her help. He’s the kind of guy who answers “can’t complain” when he’s asked how he is, though he does have considerable concerns, namely a diagnosis of stomach cancer which has left him with three months to live, at best.Īdamant about avoiding hospitalisation, Rex determines to keep working as the clock counts down, or to try to expedite the process. It is easy to see why Sims favours local legend Michael Caton in every scene, and why viewers will as well.Ĭaton plays the world weary Rex, a country cabbie content in his hometown of Broken Hill, and happiest bickering with his neighbour and lover, Polly (Ningali Lawford), or sharing a drink with his mates. Jacki Weaver is the film’s biggest name outside its country of origin, where it premiered at the Sydney Film Festival however a tender turn could see veteran performer Michael Caton follow her into the broader spotlight. Adapting the play of the same name, actor-turned-writer/director Jeremy Sims balances sentiment, wry comedy and debate as he immerses audiences in a sensitive story.
#The last taxi to darwin driver#
The topic of euthanasia guides Last Cab to Darwin’s road trip across Australia, as a terminally ill taxi driver seeks to end his life.