''Robert Rylands' Last Journey'' () is a Spanish-British film directed by

Gracia Querejeta Gracia Querejeta Marín (; born 13 August 1962) is a Spanish filmmaker. Biography She was born in Madrid in 1962, daughter to film producer Elías Querejeta and costume designer María del Carmen Marín. She studied Ancient History in the Uni ...

that premiered on 18 October 1996. It was the director's second feature film. Her script is a loose adaptation of the 1989

Javier Marías Javier Marías Franco (20 September 1951 – 11 September 2022) was a Spanish author, translator, and columnist. Marías published fifteen novels, including '' A Heart So White'' (''Corazón tan blanco,'' 1992'')'', '' Tomorrow in the Battle Th ...

novel ', which the novelist repudiated. The subsequent controversy ended with a lawsuit, which resulted in an indemnification towards the writer and an order to withdraw his name from the credits of the film.

Plot

Robert Rylands, a seductive archaeologist and university professor aged 60, voluntarily presents himself to testify at the police station. His story to the deputy, which lasts all night, begins with the arrival in Oxford of Juan Noguera, a young teacher who is going to teach a Spanish literature course at the university. Juan stays at the home of his colleague and friend Alfred Cromer, who lives with his sister and her little daughter. Juan soon perceives that the recent return of Robert Rylands to the city, after an absence of ten years, disturbs the family. He tries to investigate the cause, but both Alfred and Jill refuse to reveal the secret between them. Meanwhile, Alfred falls ill and is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Rylands tries repeatedly to contact Alfred, but he refuses to see him. Little by little Juan and Jill begin to fall in love. In the end Juan discovers the cause of the resentment against Robert Rylands. Robert and Alfred were lovers, and Jill interposed by going to bed with Robert one day. Jill became pregnant with his daughter, and when Alfred found out, the relationship between the two men broke up, and then Robert embarked on one of his exploration trips with no return date. Alfred leaves the hospital in a wheelchair, and soon after, Juan collaborates in a plot to meet Robert. After the reproaches of the reunion are reconciled, Robert tells him that he wants them to live together for the time that he has left, but Alfred tells him that if he really loves him, he has to help him

die with dignity Dignified death, death with dignity, dying with dignity or dignity in dying is an ethical concept aimed at avoiding suffering and maintaining control and autonomy in the end-of-life process. In general, it is usually treated as an extension of t ...

. Robert finally agrees, and after shooting him with his old gun, he goes to the police station to confess.

Cast

Ben Cross Harry Bernard Cross (16 December 1947 – 18 August 2020) was an English actor. He was best known for his portrayal of the British Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in the 1981 film ''Chariots of Fire'' and for playing Billy Flynn in the or ...

as Alfred Cromer *

William Franklyn William Leo Franklyn (; 22 September 1925 – 31 October 2006) was an English actor, perhaps best known for voicing the "Schhh... You Know Who" adverts for Schweppes from 1965 to 1973. He also performed on stage, film, television and rad ...

as Robert Rylands *

Gary Piquer Gary Piquer is a Spanish actor. He appeared in more than forty films since 1979. Selected filmography References External links

* Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Spanish male film actors 21st-century Spanish m ...

as Juan Noguera * Cathy Underwood as Jill, Alfred's sister *

Perdita Weeks Perdita Rose Weeks (born 25 December 1985) is a British actress who played Juliet Higgins in the CBS/NBC reboot series ''Magnum P.I. (2018 TV series), Magnum P.I.''. Life and education Weeks was born in South Glamorgan, to Robin and Susan (née ...

as Sue, Jill's daughter *

Kenneth Colley Kenneth Colley (born 7 December 1937) is an English film and television actor whose career spans over 60 years. He came to wider prominence through his role as Admiral Piett in the ''Star Wars'' films ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) and ''R ...

as Archdale * Lalita Ahmed as Ahira, Robert's housekeeper *

Karl Collins Karl Collins is a British actor. He is known for his television roles as Danny Glaze in ''The Bill'', Louis Loveday in ''Hollyoaks'', and Shaun Temple in ''Doctor Who''. He played Noah in the Apple TV series Trying, Lennox in the BBC Series Cham ...

as Abraham, Juan's student *

Maurice Denham William Maurice Denham (23 December 1909 – 24 July 2002) was an English actor who appeared in over 100 films and television programmes in his long career. Early life Denham was born on 23 December 1909 in Beckenham, Kent, the son of Eleanor ...

as Hume

Awards and nominations

* 1996: Winner of the

Círculo de Escritores Cinematográficos The Círculo de Escritores Cinematográficos (CEC), known as "Cinema Writers Circle" in English, is a private nonprofit organization supporting cinema and filmmakers in Spain. It awards the annual CEC Awards, commonly known as Premios CEC. His ...

Medal for Best Picture, Best Director (Gracia Querejeta), Best Cinematography (Antonio Pueche), Best Editing (Nacho Ruiz Capillas) * 1996: Nominated for the

Golden Shell The Golden Shell (; ) is the highest prize given to a competing film at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. It was introduced in 1957. In 1953 and 1954, the highest prize had been called the Gran Premio. In 1955 and 1956 it was replace ...

of the San Sebastián Film Festival * 1996: Nominated for the

Goya Award The Goya Awards () are Spain's main national annual film awards. They are presented by the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain. The first ceremony was held in 1987, a year after the founding of the Academy of Cinematographic Ar ...

for Best Original Music

References

External links

* {{Javier Marías 1996 drama films 1996 films British LGBTQ-related films Spanish LGBTQ-related films English-language Spanish films Films directed by Gracia Querejeta 1990s English-language films 1990s British films 1996 LGBTQ-related films 1990s LGBTQ-related drama films British drama films Spanish drama films