The Last Bus film features trip from John o' Groats to Land's End and stars Timothy Spall and Phyllis Logan
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A JOURNEY from John o' Groats to Land's End is featured in a film which has just been shown at the newly-revamped Merlin Cinema in Thurso.
The Last Bus stars award-winning actor Timothy Spall as Tom who sets off from the Caithness village on a special trip to the other end of the country after the death of his wife to scatter her ashes. The couple had been living in John o' Groats after moving from the Cornish town. Tom travels on local buses using his free bus pass and carries the ashes in a small suitcase.
The journey is one which triggers personal memories and results in him meeting up with many different people as well as experiencing a country which has changed beyond his recognition. However, along the way, he becomes a bit of a social media celebrity.
The Last Bus also features Phyllis Logan as Tom's wife Mary and Colin McCredie as Graham and Grace Calder who plays Fran. The film, which last one hour and 26 minutes, has a number of other characters and is directed by Gillies MacKinnon.
Reviews have been mixed with one national paper describing the film as "plodding and going nowhere fast" but audience reaction has been generally very positive.
One person described The Last Bus as an "amazingly well portrayed film" and said Timothy Spall is "just perfect in the role of Tom. Acting at its best."
Another said: "This is a beautiful movie, very touching and heart rending" while another person said: "I wept throughout but enjoyed it. Well written, equally well acted by all the cast."
But not all the comments were glowing. One said: "Tim Spall in sterling form. But story is slow and disappointing. Lots of stereotypical issues. Really quite depressing."
Although the film is about a trip from John o' Groats to Land's End it was shot on location in Glasgow, Ayrshire, Helensburgh and Lanarkshire.
As reported in last week's Groat the Merlin Cinema in Thurso has been transformed from a two-screen to a five screen multiplex at a cost of over £500,000.
