The Last Cruise

The Last Cruise is an insightful 2021 documentary that places you onto the Diamond Princess cruise ship, offering a first-hand account of a vacation-turned-nightmare due to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film stars Kent N. Frasure, Rebecca Frasure, and Jerri Jorgensen, the real-life passengers and crew of Diamond Princess, who become unwitting actors in a script that no one could have anticipated.

Directed by Hannah Olson, The Last Cruise is an unsettling documentary that presents a living tapestry of the early uncertainties and complexities of the COVID-19 virus. Capturing the emotional experiences of those on board, it offers a sobering reflection of what the world would soon face. Utilizing a mix of personal footage, interviews, and news coverage, Olson unboxes the whole unfortunate voyage, leaving viewers with a chilling chronicle of unfolding health crisis.

As the film opens, we accompany the 3,711 passengers and crew members aboard the Diamond Princess, all in the spirit of adventure and leisure as they journey from Japan to Southeast Asia. Blissfully ignorant of the fate that awaited them, Kent N. Frasure, his wife Rebecca Frasure, and fellow passenger Jerri Jorgensen embrace the journey and all its vibrant offerings. Kent, a self-confessed cruise lover, and his wife Rebecca, enthusiastic adventurers; and Jerri Jorgensen, a spirited retiree, are just a few of the many personalities that color this tale.

As the trip progresses, this cinematic ship sails into a stormy narrative when a passenger testing positive for a new, little understood virus morphs the luxury cruise into an involuntary quarantine. The spectacular landscapes surrounding the ship's deck soon become gilded cages where psyches get tested, spirits falter, and fear becomes a constant companion.

There is a captivating human element to The Last Cruise. As the days in quarantine stretch into weeks, we delve into slices of life aboard the ship. The Frasures' journey is a particular emotional rollercoaster. A young couple on an adventure, they echo the viewer's disbelief and concern as the mild disruption turns their laid-back vacation into an anxious waiting game. Jerri, too, brings a unique perspective. The positivity that she echoes forms a poignant contrast to the imminent uncertainty that surrounds them all.

Onboard, people are not just battling a virus. They are grappling with limited information, anxiety, isolation, and the fear of becoming the next statistic in a rapidly growing pandemic. Crew members, stuck between their duties and their health, face even more difficulties. The contrast between their worry-laden faces behind closed doors and their cheerful exteriors while performing their duties adds a heart-wrenching layer to the narrative.

The movie doesn't shy away from showing the stark inequities within the ship. The place that symbolized luxury and leisure swiftly morphs into a setting of health and safety disparities. The crew's quarters become potential hubs for the virus, with shared rooms and toilet facilities, while the passengers are quarantined in individual cabins. The film holds a magnifying glass to these underlying disparities, subtly inviting viewers to reflect on the broader global socioeconomic divide during the ongoing pandemic.

Therein lies the strength of The Last Cruise — it isn’t merely a record of a pandemic's early days. It portrays a microcosm of society during a crisis rendering an unfiltered and poignant commentary about human resilience and fragility. It breaks down what it means to face danger collectively and yet in isolation.

Overall, The Last Cruise is a compelling documentary, the kind that becomes a part of historic evidence of a time that forever imprinted itself on human civilization. Weaving together fear, uncertainty, resilience, and hope, it paints a picture of a time the world was on the brink of a global change. Riveting and reflective, it's a must-watch for those eager to dive deep into the unfolding of the pandemic as seen from the ill-fated Diamond Princess. The film firmly places you in the shoes of the troubled passengers, leaving you balancing on the fine line that divides a dream getaway and an unexpected nightmare.