The City Of Your Final Destination

Universally recognised in tandem for the better part of half a century, producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory have forged a long-running career untangling the complexities of the human condition, as perfectly positioned within the period realm. Joining with prolific screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and renowned composer Richard Robbins, the foursome have crafted complex dramas, often setting-specific, with undercurrents of romance and themes of tragedy hidden within and repeated throughout. From the debut 1963 effort The Householder to the height of Merchant Ivory filmmaking in the 1980s and 1990s (exemplified by A Room With A View, Howard’s End, and The Remains Of The Day), the company – originally founded to make internationally-focused English-language films in India – has carved a unique niche in the market, with the reputation of their productions often augmenting the attraction to their films. Although quieter during the twenty-first century with just seven pieces making their way to screens (The Golden Bowl being the best known, and Le Divorce the worst received), the so-called Merchant Ivory genre still remains, albeit without the Merchant element since his 2005 passing. The City Of Your Final Destination is the latest release from the iconic brand (and the first that Ivory has made since his partner’s death), in a beautiful and seductive, contemplative and symbolic character piece based on Peter Cameron’s novel of the same name.

From his adopted home in Kansas, stagnant university academic Omar Razaghi (Omar Metwally, Rendition) is working towards completing his doctorate, with a biography of late author Jules Gund the cornerstone of his work. When his request to delve into Gund’s personal affairs is declined by the executors of the writer’s estate, Omar is at a loss (his goal of securing further funding to become Professor Razaghi – a title he remarks will make him sound like a magician – depends on the book), yet his determined girlfriend Deirdre (Alexandra Maria Lara, Farewell) convinces him to continue to fight for authorisation. Travelling 5,000 miles to the Gund family home in Uruguay, Omar arrives unannounced at the sprawling property shared by widow Caroline (Laura Linney, The Other Man), mistress Arden (Charlotte Gainsbourg, The Tree), brother Adam (Anthony Hopkins, The Wolfman) and his lover (Hiroyuki Sanada, Sunshine), with each meeting the stranger with varying levels of caution. As he becomes more immersed in their unusual lifestyle in the idyllic locale, his focus shifts from Gund’s literary legacy to his personal life, amplified by diverse reactions to his continued pleas for access. Embroiled in the labyrinthine minutiae of personal relationships left in the shadow of the author’s departed presence, Omar cultivates a burgeoning bond with the motley crew of tortured souls, impacting his outlook on the private and professional fronts.

Subtle and seductive despite its slow-moving premise, The City Of Your Final Destination may not be the type of film to receive mass-scale appreciation, however Ivory’s layered approach rewards those willing to make the commitment to this cerebral gem. With little happening other than the voyeurism and psychoanalysis of human connections, the feature is predicated upon the audience buying into the intricate premise (and accepting the unlikely predicament), achieving modest success in terms of emotional resonance in a quietly enthralling offering. As tends to be the case with such films – and with most of the Merchant Ivory catalogue given the stellar rota of contributors (Helena Bonham Carter, Emma Thompson, Vanessa Redgrave, Hopkins and the like) – it is the work of the actors that provides the central unifying element, with relative unknown Metwally well cast as the enigmatic lead. The remainder of the performers – Linney, Gainsbourg, Hopkins and Sanada – each add their own sense of style, with the complete package resembling a precarious and painstakingly deliberate melting pot of cultures and experiences. Although the end product is quite familiar and predictable (and stilted in dialogue), the viewer is imbued with a classic art-house experience through the sensitive journey the story takes. To that end, The City Of Your Final Destination is both lush and leisurely in equally understated measures, in a rich, nuanced voyage through fractured hearts and minds.

The City Of Your Final Destination is now screening in cinemas across Australia.

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