Final Rating: 3/5
Read Paulo Bautista’s review of Grand Tour from the New York Film Festival.
Grand Tour is a sweeping saga that earned Miguel Gomes best director at Cannes. The film’s visuals are gorgeous, and it mixes in modern shots from the various Asian nations that chart its course in colour, accompanied by voice over that depicts the narrative set in 1917 which is filmed in black and white.
The story unfolds in two distinct parts detailing the story of two ill fated lovers. First the journey of Edward (Gonçalo Waddington) and then of his fiancé Molly (Crista Alfaiate). They have been apart for seven years as Edward has been working as a civil servant for the British Government in Asia, and the time has come for them to marry. However, Edward is not so enamoured with this idea and rather than face Molly or outright end their engagement, he takes the coward’s way out and rushes off across Asia upon hearing of her imminent arrival, attempting to stay one step ahead of her to avoid this union.
Edward takes any means of transit to escape and doesn’t allow things like a train derailment, having to stow away on a boat, or social engagements stop him. It plays out in a Catch Me if You Can sort of fashion as Edward barely seems to have time to settle in one local before she’s hot on his trail, at one juncture barely missing him leaving a ball in honour of a young prince.
Molly’s story begins as she heads out from England to meet him, but when she arrives finds Edward is not there to greet her. Not one to accept such an affront lightly, essentially denying his reluctance as a possibility altogether, Molly takes off after him. However, she soon falls ill and is taken in by the wealthy Mr. Sanders (Cláudio da Silva) whom she first met on the boat coming over. While they didn’t hit it off upon this first meeting, Mr. Sanders assures her he means her no ill intent or to intrude on her relationship if that’s what she desires, and will care for her until such time as she is well enough to continue her journey.
It is clear Mr. Sanders has feelings for Molly, having offered marriage in his own right when they met, and this again complicates matters as she must decide what path to travel. Inevitably Molly pursues Edward and is aided by Ngoc (Lang Khê Tran) one of Mr. Sanders’ employees. Ngoc is very good natured and the two women form a close bond while Molly is recovering. However, this friendship comes to be tested with the oft arduous journey they embark on. They travel up a river which during that season is incredibly perilous because of the low water levels and possibility of attack from locals given tensions in the area. As a result their demise seems imminent.
The visuals and set design capture the style of the era well, and entrench us in the period. The performances are solid, but the story itself never seems to grab one like it could as we never see them together, what brought them to one another, nor truly understand why Edward is so intent on fleeing or what Molly is fighting so diligently for after all this time.
Edward runs into Molly’s cousin Reginald (Jorge Andrade) at a bar who is convinced that his suspicious behaviour must mean that he is doing some espionage work for the British government, as he couldn’t possibly be so cowardly as to desert her. He relates this to Molly when she shows up shortly after, but this idea is quickly eschewed. We feel for Molly, but it lacks the gut punch it might have had their relationship been fleshed out more.
Grand Tour was seen during the 2025 International Film Festival of Ottawa.
