Pablo Behrens's experimental documentary London's Last Wilderness offers an eccentric and somewhat indulgent voyage along the Thames estuary, blending the wildness of mudflats with the rusted relics of abandoned infrastructure. The film, which premieres in UK cinemas on 24 April, presents a unique perspective through the eyes of an unseen explorer, capturing the stark contrast between nature and industrial decay.
An Unconventional Cinematic Journey
Through the gaze of an unidentified explorer—possibly an extraterrestrial entity—the camera guides viewers along the Thames estuary, with location coordinates flashing on screen and scratchy voices from a command centre adding to the immersive experience. The landscape alternates between serene mudflats with wading birds and haunting scenes of power stations, pylons, and derelict fairground rides, evoking a post-apocalyptic vision akin to a world decades after civilisation's collapse.
Eerie Landmarks and Lyrical Shortcomings
Among the film's highlights are the eerie Maunsell sea forts off the coast of Whitstable in Kent, rusted steel towers resembling miniature oil rigs that echo the aesthetic of Mad Max. However, on-screen captions detailing the explorer's observations often fall flat, with lines like "Several structures made it clear to me that this region had sustained a prolonged war" lacking the lyrical depth found in works by Iain Sinclair, Rachel Lichtenstein, or JG Ballard, momentarily breaking the documentary's spell.
A Blend of Natural Beauty and Urban Decay
London's Last Wilderness juxtaposes luminous mists and burning sunrises with cheerful redbrick housing estates and sunburnt teenagers splashing in the river, creating a vivid tapestry of the estuary's eclectic character. While the film's experimental approach may feel indulgent and not fully realised, it remains an engaging exploration of one of London's most overlooked regions, where wildlife and industrial remnants coexist in a captivating, if chaotic, harmony.
