Imagine if the kids in Skins celebrated leaving school by making itineraries and heading off on a graduation adventure. That’s the world brought to us by London filmmaker Sasha Nathwani in his feature debut, a touching – if often stereotypical – look at Gen Z-ers heading into adulthood, complete with voice notes, astrophysics, and a crippling fear of living through uncertain times.
Deba Hekmat gives a nuanced performance as Ziba, an Iranian-British teen struggling to find meaning in the face of a life-altering revelation. It’s A-level results day and Ziba and her eclectic group of friends are celebrating their freedom by attempting to control the existential dread of adulthood with a celebratory itinerary. Travelling from one London landmark to the next, it’s an ideal tourist’s day out; Portobello Road, Hampstead Heath, Billionaires’ Row and finally, Primrose Hill.
Nathwani’s Indian-Iranian heritage gives his depiction of merging cultures an authentic and refreshing twist – the opening scene cleverly questions what society expects from a non-white teenage girl without being overly moralising. Ziba’s relationship with her unwaveringly affectionate mother (Narges Rashidi) is genuinely touching, a rejection of the austere immigrant parent stereotype.
There’s no shortage of intimate moments, particularly in the case of young footballer Malcolm (scene-stealing newcomer Denzel Baidoo). He’s a friend of a friend reluctantly allowed to tag along for reasons that are superficial at best. Baidoo’s performance is arguably the best of the bunch and he’s wasted on the sidelines, the butt of some cheap jokes.
A touching – if often stereotypical – look at Gen Z-ers heading into adulthood
The best parts of Last Swim come in its ability to convey visceral emotional pain. But just like a tourist, Nathwani’s shots are often those of an outsider. They fail to capture the vibrancy of the city. The settings are characterless – literally. There’s no people anywhere. No strangers on the streets, no cars on the road – there’s no one on the Tube.
Whether it is the setting of A-level results day or the unmistakable shot of teenagers lying in a pile (à la Skins), Nathwani relies on too many tropes to feel unique.
The result is a loss of the fluidity and freedom which make coming-of-age dramas so compelling. Last Swim should have ditched the itinerary and strayed off the beaten path.
In UK cinemas Apr 4.