# Last Cab to Darwin (film)

Last Cab to Darwin is a 2015 Australian film directed by Jeremy Sims and written by Sims and Reg Cribb. Based on Cribb's 2003 play of the same name, it stars Michael Caton, Ningali Lawford, Mark Coles Smith, Emma Hamilton and Jacki Weaver, who was in the original cast of the play. Like the play, the film was inspired by the true story of Max Bell, a taxi driver who traveled from Broken Hill to Darwin to seek euthanasia after he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. The film received positive reviews and was nominated for nine AACTA Awards, winning Best Actor for Caton and Best Adapted Screenplay for Sims and Cribb.

## Plot

Rex, a taxi driver in his 70s, has spent nearly his entire life in the New South Wales city of Broken Hill. He has a group of friends, but never had a family of his own and has no family members remaining. He has a close relationship with his Aboriginal neighbour Polly, but because of racial tensions, is resistant to becoming romantically involved. Rex's life changes when he is diagnosed with cancer and told he will not survive longer than three months. Refusing to become committed to a hospital, he learns that a euthanasia device has been invented by Dr. Nicole Farmer at a clinic in the Northern Territory capital city of Darwin. Rex contacts Dr. Farmer and volunteers to serve as the device's first patient. Due to euthanasia only being legal in the Northern Territory, Rex embarks on a 3,000-kilometre journey, in his Ford BA Falcon taxi, to Darwin to end his life on his own terms. He leaves behind a will, which grants ownership of his home to Polly.
On the way to Darwin, Rex is joined by Tilly, an Aboriginal drifter. Tilly reveals to Rex that he turned down an offer to join a football club and eventually admits he did so out of fear. The men are later accompanied by Julie, an English backpacker and nurse. When they reach their destination, the group learns from Dr. Farmer that euthanasia cannot legally proceed without approval from a psychological and medical expert. As he waits to be interviewed by the experts, Rex has Tilly join the football club he originally turned down. He also contacts Polly, despite her anger at him for trying to end his life, and admits that he wanted to ask for her hand in marriage. She calls him back and says she would have accepted.
Rex's interview with a medical expert becomes delayed and he winds up becoming hospitalised, which he was attempting to avoid. Unable to wait any longer, Rex has Julie hook him up to the device and answers the questions required to initiate the euthanasia procedure, but as the drugs start to head towards his bloodstream, he disconnects himself. Deciding he does not want to end his life, Rex drives back to Broken Hill, assisted by medication Julie provided. While Rex heads home with minimal rest, Tilly prepares to play in his first football game and Julie returns to England.
Arriving at his house, an exhausted Rex is greeted by Polly on his front porch. The two hold hands as Rex loses consciousness and watches the sun set.

## Cast

* Michael Caton as Rex
* Ningali Lawford as Polly
* Mark Coles Smith as Tilly
* Emma Hamilton as Julie
* Jacki Weaver as Dr. Nicole Farmer
* Shareena Clanton as Sally
* Brian Taylor as Tilly's football coach
* Mercia Deane-Johns as Fay
* Brendan Cowell as tavern publican

## Production

The script for the film was adapted as a screenplay by Jeremy Sims and Reg Cribb. Sims' association with Reg Cribb began when his production company, Pork Chop Productions produced a successful stage version. The film was given the go-ahead by Screen Australia in October 2013 as one of six films to share in $5.4 million government funding.
The shooting was scheduled to take place between May and June 2014.

## Historical background

The play and film are modeled on the true story of Max Bell, a taxi driver from Broken Hill who made the 3,000-kilometre trip from Broken Hill to Darwin in 1996 seeking euthanasia. Like Rex in the film, Bell also drove back to Broken Hill, but Bell did so reluctantly. He had been unable to obtain the signatures required to proceed with euthanasia in Darwin and died slowly in a hospital in Broken Hill, the fate he was trying to avoid.
The euthanasia device invented by the fictional Nicole Farmer in the film is based on Australian physician Philip Nitschke's Deliverance Machine, which was used legally in the Northern Territory while the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act was in effect.

## Reception

Last Cab to Darwin received positive reviews from critics, earning a 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 35 reviews with an average rating of 7.1 out of 10. On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 70 based on nine reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

### Accolades

| Award | Category | Subject | Result |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | Best Film | Lisa Duff | Nominated |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | Best Film | Greg Duffy | Nominated |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | Best Film | Jeremy Sims | Nominated |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | Best Direction | Jeremy Sims | Nominated |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | Best Adapted Screenplay | Jeremy Sims | Won |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | Best Adapted Screenplay | Reg Cribb | Won |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | Best Actor | Michael Caton | Won |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | Best Actress | Ningali Lawford | Nominated |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | Best Supporting Actor | Mark Coles Smith | Nominated |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | Best Supporting Actress | Emma Hamilton | Nominated |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | Best Cinematography | Steve Arnold | Nominated |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | People's Choice Award for Favourite Australian Film | Lisa Duff | Nominated |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | People's Choice Award for Favourite Australian Film | Greg Duffy | Nominated |
| AACTA Awards (5th) | People's Choice Award for Favourite Australian Film | Jeremy Sims | Nominated |
| ARIA Awards | Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album | soundtrack | Nominated |
| ADG Award | Best Direction in a Feature Film | Jeremy Sims | Nominated |
| AFCA Awards | Best Film | Lisa Duff | Nominated |
| AFCA Awards | Best Film | Greg Duffy | Nominated |
| AFCA Awards | Best Film | Jeremy Sims | Nominated |
| AFCA Awards | Best Director | Jeremy Sims | Nominated |
| AFCA Awards | Best Screenplay | Jeremy Sims | Nominated |
| AFCA Awards | Best Screenplay | Reg Cribb | Nominated |
| AFCA Awards | Best Actor | Michael Caton | Nominated |
| AFCA Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Mark Coles Smith | Nominated |
| AFCA Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Emma Hamilton | Nominated |
| AWGIE Award | Best Writing in a Feature Film – Adapted | Jeremy Sims | Nominated |
| AWGIE Award | Best Writing in a Feature Film – Adapted | Reg Cribb | Nominated |
| CGA Award | Best Film Casting | Kirsty McGregor | Won |
| FCCA Awards | Best Film | Lisa Duff | Nominated |
| FCCA Awards | Best Film | Greg Duffy | Nominated |
| FCCA Awards | Best Film | Jeremy Sims | Nominated |
| FCCA Awards | Best Director | Jeremy Sims | Nominated |
| FCCA Awards | Best Script/Screenplay | Jeremy Sims | Nominated |
| FCCA Awards | Best Script/Screenplay | Reg Cribb | Nominated |
| FCCA Awards | Best Actor | Michael Caton | Won |
| FCCA Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Mark Coles Smith | Won |
| FCCA Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Emma Hamilton | Nominated |
| FCCA Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Ningali Lawford | Nominated |
| FCCA Awards | Best Cinematography | Steve Arnold | Nominated |
| Sydney Film Festival | Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature | Jeremy Sims | Runner-up |