The Last One for the Road by Amber Wilkinson
Seizing the day means seizing the bottle for best pals Carlobianchi (Sergio Romano) and Doriano (Pierpaolo Capovilla), two friends who seem to operate on the principle that they never quite know when to quit. Writer and director Francesco Sossai captures this spirit in his wry film, which is shot through with a lived-in melancholy that perfectly mirrors the road trip itself.
The narrative weaves together a shaggy dog story and a journey across northern Italy’s Veneto backwaters. The duo spends their time reminiscing about old times while relentlessly searching for one more adventure on the road. Their travels are punctuated by memories of their old friend Genio (Andrea Pennacchi), a figure who has fled the country for various reasons following the financial turmoil of the 2008 crisis.
Their routine—a perpetual cycle of hangover, hair of the dog, and back again—is about to be disrupted by an unexpected encounter. Their dynamic shifts when they meet Guilio (Filippo Scotti), a stressed-out architecture student whose romantic inclinations are, much like the drinking duo, going nowhere fast.
Guilio, introverted and thoughtful, proves to be a stark contrast to Carlobianchi and Doriano’s boisterous outlook. Despite their differing perspectives, Guilio shares an inherent sense of wanderlust that echoes the restlessness defining the journey through the Italian landscape.
The film beautifully explores how shared experiences—whether fueled by alcohol or mutual yearning—can redefine two lives, turning a simple road trip into a complex exploration of friendship, memory, and the search for meaning. It is a melancholic yet ultimately warm look at what happens when old routines collide with new possibilities on the open road.
Credit: Eye For Film
