Director:Â Peter Hutchings
Cast:Â Nina Dobrev, Maisie Williams, Peyton List, Asa Butterfield, Ken Jeong, Tyler Hoechlin, Tituss Burgess
Rating:Â 12
Running time: 92 mins
Release date:Â 04/03/2019
Following in the grand tradition of THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, coupled with a hint of UP IN THE AIR due to it’s setting, DEPARTURES is set to become one of the tear-jerkers of 2019. It has been re-titled for its UK release from THEN CAME YOU, in case there is some confusion.
Directed by Peter Hutchings from a screenplay by Fergal Rock, DEPARTURES sees GAME OF THRONES’ Maisie Williams as a terminally ill Brit cancer patient, Skye, who befriends hypochondriac student Calvin (Asa Butterfield, ENDER’S GAME), whom she meets at a cancer support group. Calvin has more than his fair share of issues in life which are further compounded by his desire to believe that he has the Big ‘C’, even though his doctor has diagnosed him with a clean bill of health and his family, who are suffering post-traumatic grief from an earlier family tragedy.
Calvin works as a Baggage Handler at the airport, where he also encounters Izzy (Nina Dobrev), a flight attendant who has a curious eye on him. Before long, Skye has enticed him into carrying out her every wish on a bucket list. Inevitably, the sparks begin to flow for Calvin and Skye, who also has a desire to help Calvin connect with Izzy…
DEPARTURES will certainly tug at the heartstrings with its sentiment and reflection, but it is elevated thanks to some fantastic main performances from Butterfield, Dobrev and Williams. In the latter case, it will help move her away from the fantasy realm when the show completes its final season. Dobrev featured in the recent remake of Joel Schumacher’s FLATLINERS with Ellen Page and reminds one of a young Jennifer Connelly.
The film has a poignant mix of drama and humour, which Williams heightens particularly in her interplay with Butterfield, whose character is doing his level best to keep up a facade whilst attempting to impress two ladies in the process. THE HANGOVER’s Ken Jeong also adds some nice, humorous touches as a local cop who also gets drawn into Calvin’s facade as well.
Like THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, the movie tries to convey a sensitive message without trying to condescend or patronise the audience and will certainly push the right buttons with audiences who love a good comedy drama like this.
Departures will be available to watch on digital download from 4th March 2019 and will be screened at the Dublin Film Festival 2019.
