Last Swim (dir. Sasha Nathwani)

by Jack Martin | Apr 5, 2025

Certificate: 15

Running Time: 96 mins

UK Distributor: Vertigo Releasing

UK Release Date: 4 April 2025

WHO’S IN LAST SWIM?

Deba Hekmat, Narges Rashidi, Solly McLeod, Jay Lycurgo, Denzel Baidoo, Lydia Fleming, Michelle Greenidge, Davoud Rastgou

WHO’S BEHIND THE CAMERA?

Sasha Nathwani (director, writer), Helen Simmons (writer, producer), Campbell Beaton, Bert Hamelinck, James Isilay, Nisha Mullea and Sorcha Shepherd (producers), Federico Albanese (composer), Olan Collardy (cinematographer), Stephen Dunne (editor)

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

A group of teens set out to celebrate their A-Level results…

WHAT ARE MY THOUGHTS ON LAST SWIM?

Among its many other eccentricities, the United Kingdom annually designates the third Thursday of August to a day when nerve-stricken teenagers learn the results of their A-Level exams, and with them their immediate academic or employment futures. It’s a rather strange tradition, thinking about it from an outsider’s perspective, for a mere 24-hour period can dictate the direction of one’s life as they emerge into full-blown adulthood, which can be quite daunting for young people who may already be fretting about where they go from here.

For filmmaker Sasha Nathwani, it also serves as the thoughtful backdrop of his debut feature Last Swim, an intimate and thoroughly heartfelt coming-of-age drama that takes that feeling of adolescent uncertainty and drills deep into it, mining something profound and unafraid to ask some difficult questions most young people can relate to.

Nathwani’s film takes place during that very results day, focusing on aspiring young astrophysicist Ziba (Deba Hekmat) who, from first glance, has her future set out for her. Not only is she whip-smart, impressing even the mildly condescending professor during her university interview, but she’s absolutely aced her A-Levels with top grades across the board, and has her undergraduate status all but confirmed. She’s even so organised that she’s put together a tight itinerary for her and her friends Tara (Lydia Fleming), Shea (Solly McLeod) and Merf (Jay Lycurgo) – as well as unexpected tagalong Malcolm (Denzel Baidoo), a former student from the year above them who’s now training at an exclusive football club – to follow throughout their day of celebration, culminating with a rare meteor shower across the city skyline.

However, it becomes clear that Ziba is keeping a dark secret from her friends, one that threatens to derail her academic prospects and even, it turns out, her future in general. It is also apparent that she plans something drastic when the clock hits a minute to midnight, so the day is more or less a farewell tour for Ziba as she contemplates a deeply troubling conclusion to her brief existence.

The film, as you may have guessed, deals with some heavy and even upsetting themes surrounding mortality, particularly within young people who, as smart as the likes of Ziba may be, are not yet fully developed to realise the extremity of their life decisions. But Nathwani, along with co-writer Helen Simmons, is sensitive enough to avoid cheapening the severity of such a subject with full-blown melodrama (save for a couple of rather shocking moments), instead framing it as a much more tender exploration of the young character’s overly poetic view of life, where even the act of potentially taking one’s life is imagined with the artistic liberties of a perfume commercial.

As the day goes on, and as Ziba experiences signs of ailing health from frequent nosebleeds to suddenly passing out whilst riding a bike, Nathwani interestingly dials up his ponderous and dream-like filmmaking style to reflect her stubborn commitment to a somewhat romanticised end – until one of the aforementioned shocking moments sends her worldview crumbling down, and with it the film’s intentional pretence that mirrored such an overblown outlook on life.

For those worried that the heavier themes would drag Last Swim down a peg or two, Nathwani has the situation covered with a group of characters, our lead included, who are extremely easy to enjoy being in the company of. The young cast members share exquisite chemistry with one other, their on-screen friendship feeling natural and lived-in to where any minor disagreements or arguments are quicky swept under the rug for they all just want to enjoy the day together, doing everything from driving around in an ugly old car, swimming in a lake, taking mushrooms in the park, and chatting about everything under the sun.

Every actor has a moment to shine, some more vulnerable than others, and they’re led by a truly confident turn by Deba Hekmat who, for only her second film role (she also popped up in last year’s Hoard), glides through like a seasoned veteran with a charismatic presence that will no doubt take her far in roles yet to come.

Spending time with these extremely likeable young teens and the deep care they have for one another is the real treat that Nathwani leaves for us, for beyond its darker subject matter, Last Swim is a film with immense heart and compassion for a generation riddled with uncertainty. Given the current state our world is in right now, especially for young people who are no doubt feeling the crunch of numerous misguided decisions by their powerful elders, it’s all too easy to understand why someone like Ziba would choose to do something so drastic as a means to avoid all those hardships (though of course, it’s not the only thing that’s influencing her decision).

However, right up to its slightly ambiguous ending, Nathwani’s film offers a comforting optimism that no matter what these characters end up going through, they’ll make it through so long as their hearts and friendships remain as pure as they currently are, which as corny as it sounds can be powerful enough to make all the difference.

Despite its grimness, Last Swim is ultimately a film about embracing life for all it’s worth, even when it seems like there’s nothing to look forward to, and is all the more profoundly emotional and effectively endearing for it.

SO, TO SUM UP…

Last Swim is a touching coming-of-age drama that counteracts its heavy themes of mortality with a lovable beating heart that’s shared amongst its impressive young cast, including an especially captivating Deba Hekmat, rendering it a sweet love letter to a generation whose compassion will no doubt save us all in the future.