Grand Tour, About a Cross-Continental Pursuit of An Ex-Lover, Is a Cinematic Gem

Sublime and remarkable are two words that immediately come to mind which aptly describe Grand Tour, Portugal’s official submission into the 2025 Academy Awards Best International Feature.

Miguel Gomes, who directed this cinematic gem, was also honoured as the Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival.

Set in 1918 this simplistic story delves into the peculiar relationship of Edward and Molly. She came from London to marry the man of her dreams, but he lost his nerve and ran off. It’s been seven years since he last saw her, and as he’s on this grand tour which takes him to Singapore, China, Japan and Vietnam, Molly is following him, second-guessing his route – but what secret does she harbour?

“I’m running away from a woman who is following me,” Edward tells a stranger as he recounts his reasons for travelling. Upon hearing the whole story the stranger exclaims, “This is the saddest story I have ever heard!”

Is Edward a coward or a man who, in his ‘alleged wisdom’, no longer desires to commit to a lifelong relationship? Will they ultimately reunite, and will Edward see what is deemed to be the error of his ways?

The majority of this film is beautifully filmed in glorious black and white with a tinge of sepia which traverses to colour in many sequences. The black and white footage visually evokes the sense that this movie may have been produced in the early 1930’s, a bygone era when the process of shooting movies in colour was in its infancy.

The first act of the film surrounds Edward, and curiosity will be aroused as audiences anticipate learning about Molly in the second act.

Their story is cleverly intertwined with somewhat irrelevant segments or satisfying time fillers that explore the cultures of all the Asian countries these two pivotal characters travel to. Unrehearsed and priceless real-life moments are captured on film of local fishermen at work, selling their catch at markets, people eating in restaurants while singers entertain, and animals in their natural habitat.

These long visuals are a feast for the eyes, strangely entertaining with a musical score that compounds to the entrancement of the grand tour. Dialogue is minimal, especially in the first act and narration is predominantly utilised to convey the story.

Grand Tour is a flawless cinematic gem, and audiences should unquestionably be mesmerised by this artistically refined motion picture which many may class as a masterpiece. This movie highlights the excellence of filmmaking in countries which the uninformed may deem as ‘artistically and cinematically challenged’.

Grand Tour

****1/2

In Cinemas February 13