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| Images courtesy of Cult Epics |
Most films about survival in harsh conditions are not about the environment but about how the survivors interact with each other. Each character represents an archetype, and the group becomes a micro representation of humanity as a whole. Even under the best conditions, people mostly don't get along as well as they should; once the safety nets are taken away, all bets are off. The 1954 novel Lord of the Flies is one of the more iconic depictions of this concept and the way social mores quickly break down in catastrophic situations, but it is somewhat limited in its primarily male viewpoint. The Last Island (1990), by Dutch director Marleen Gorris, adds new ideas to this well-worn story by adding women and queer perspectives to the mix.
The Last Island doesn't beat around the bush; it begins right after the plane crash, as the dazed survivors wander around the deserted island. Five men, two women, and a dog are all that are left. Initially, they are optimistic that help will be on the way, but that hope is dashed as the days pass and nobody comes. Off camera, it also seems that an apocalyptic event has happened to the rest of the world, and these people might just be the last of all of humanity. There are only two women, a middle-aged lawyer named Joanna (Shelagh McLeod) and Mrs. Godame (Patricia Hayes) an elderly woman. As the months pass on the island, some of the men begin to get antsy about "repopulation" even though Joanna is strongly against having children. One of the men is also a religious nut, and he tries to instill Old Testament values in the rest of the group.
Women's rights are usually the first thing to go in an emergency situation, and there has always been discussion about the terrible things that happen to women during situations like natural disasters and war when they have no protection from authority. The Last Island explores these ideas organically, letting the characters and relationships develop naturally, and it is quite harrowing to watch everything decline as the men vie for control of the situation. Joanna has to come to terms with being physically weaker than the men on the island and figure out how to keep her independence while simultaneously just surviving the elements. The two gay characters, Sean (Paul Freeman) and Frank (Mark Hembrow) share a touching romance that is violently interrupted by the Bible-thumping maniac Nick (Kenneth Colley). This film doesn't shy away from the harsher realities of the dark side of humans.
Although the film takes place entirely in one outdoor location, it is delicately shot, with beautiful nature scenes and gorgeous natural lighting. The beauty of the island is starkly contrasted with the brutality of the people living on it, who, if they put aside their differences, could live off the land in peace. The ending is poignant and ambivalent, a somber reminder that being alive is more than just surviving; you need to actually live as well.
Cult Epics Blu-ray Extras:
-New 2K HD Transfer (from original 35mm print) & Restoration
-Original LPCM 2.0 Stereo track
-New DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo track
-Audio Commentary by Film Scholar Peter Verstraten
-Behind-the-Scenes of The Last Island
-Interview with Politica Columnist Annemarie Grewel (Cinema 3, 1990)
-Original Theatrical Trailer
-Promotional Gallery
-Trailers
-Double-sided Sleeve
-Dual-layered Disc
-Audio Introduction by Dick Maas
--Michelle Kisner