The Last Bus

The main character is an elderly White male who is living with a terminal illness. The film is solely centered around this character but there is some diversity and women characters in supporting roles. There is some Islamophobia and xenophobia depicted but this is clearly shown to be wrong with characters standing up to those showing these bigoted attitudes.

A character cuts their finger, and later their head, both incidents resulting in a bit of bloodshed. War injuries are discussed including seeing others with their "legs blown off." A character is seen collapsed dead in a garden. A thief who steals a briefcase is then threatened with a baseball bat. Later a character who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer is seen throwing up blood. A passenger on a bus receives unwanted attention from someone who then starts using Islamophobic language.

A couple are seen engaging in intercourse. They are both clothed and it is not graphic. Two characters also allude to having sex and making noises that could awake the neighbors.

Words including "s--t," "piss," and "sod" are used. An elderly character is called "grandad," "pops," and "old git," all intended to be insults. Some Islamophobic behavior. Character refers to Scotland as "Jockland" and says that by crossing the border into England they are "entering civilization."

A bachelorette party is seen drinking on the street. In the same scene a person who is seemingly experiencing homeless offers alcohol to another character. Characters are seen drinking beer in the back of a van and later at a house party. A character is seen pouring a vodka for another.

Parents need to know that The Last Bus is a slow, moving British drama that looks upon the theme of grief and facing up to one's own mortality. Central character Tom (Timothy Spall) has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and is determined to travel by bus from one end of the U.K. to the other in order to scatter the ashes of his deceased wife, Mary (Phyllis Logan). Along this journey he begins to learn about himself and make sense of his terminal diagnosis. During his trip, Tom displays many honorable traits. But he also encounters many who represent the less favorable side of humanity. A man behaves racist toward a Muslim lady on the bus and a thief steals Tom's briefcase. Tom stands up to some of these bullies and is supported by other passengers -- although one threatens the young, female thief with a baseball bat. A bus conductor also shows xenophobic behavior when he alludes to England being a more civilized place than Scotland. There is a mild sex scene, with no nudity, and a couple discuss their sex life. The language is generally mild with one use of "piss" and some use of "s--t." People also refer to Tom as an "old git" and "grandad," intended as insults. Some drinking is depicted with characters drinking on the street, and in the back of a van, and also at a house party, where straight vodka is served to guests.

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