Press & Updates
Last Ride, director Glendyn Ivin’s first feature after winning the Palme d’Or for his short film Crackerbag at Cannes in 2003, started production this week in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, starring Hugo Weaving.
Weaving plays Kev, the dad on the run from the law, with his son, Chook. Local South Australian actor, 10 year old Tom Russell, won the role of Chook after an extensive search across Australia. Also cast are Anita Hegh (Paradise Road, Valentine’s Day) as Maryanne and John Brumpton as Max (Gettin’ Square, Angel Baby).
Ivin will direct the screenplay by Mac Gudgeon (Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery, Wind, The Delinquents) adapted from the award winning novel by first time writer Denise Young (Harper Collins Varuna Award, winner NSW Premier’s Literary Awards). Greig Fraser (Bright Star, Jewboy, Crackerbag) is cinematographer.
Last Ride is the moving story of Kev and his son on the run from the laws of society and the tough choices they are forced to make as they journey across the stunning Flinders Ranges heading deeper into the outback and deeper into trouble. The salt lakes and volcanic rocks of the Flinders Ranges form a dramatic backdrop to the story.
Producers Nick Cole and Antonia Barnard (The Quiet American, The Painted Veil) are one of the early producing teams to successfully finance their film through Australia’s new Producer Offset with the former FFC (now Screen Australia), South Australian Film Corporation, Film Victoria and the Adelaide Film Festival.
“I feel so lucky to be embarking on this project surrounded by the most talented, supportive and inspiring cast and crew,” said Ivin. “The script is full of life and ready to go … it promises to be a rewarding experience for us all.”
Local distributor Madman Cinema has Australasian distribution and ContentFilm International has distribution rights for the rest of world. Jamie Carmichael, President of ContentFilm Intl’ said: “Glendyn, Nicholas and Antonia have found some extraordinarily beautiful locations for the shoot and a really wonderful young actor in Tom Russell to play opposite Hugo Weaving as his son. We’re all set to bring the power of the script to the screen. It feels very good indeed.”
