Hit The Road movie is uncomplicated to watch. But the warm story about an Iranian family dynamics during a family road trip, becomes complicated and includes a number of unexpected turns.
It is emotionally captivating full of wit and sadness diluted with humour. It also gives you an insight into life around the middle east although it was not filmed in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. The landscape is a colour palette of golden mustard fields and hills to luscious greenery.
The glances and exchanges between family members and the people they run into need no words, their expressions say it all.
The young actor Rayan Sarlak is brilliant and perfectly cast. His livewire antics made me smile numerous times throughout the film.
I enjoyed this unusual fictional movie that could almost be classified as a documentary, as it seemed to bounce between both. Questions abound. Why dispose of mobile phones, and use a borrowed car and why is the older son so reticent about their destination? There is a subtle yet political meaning to it all.
The Story
This alluringly composed film opens with Schubert’s sonata as the young boy plays the notes on his father’s hand-decorated leg cast consisting of musical notes.
A chaotic, tender family is on a road trip to where? The father has a broken leg and sits in the back seat, yet we tend to wonder if his leg is really broken. Mum has ongoing bittersweet emotions as she tries to laugh, other times, has difficulty holding back her tears.
The youngest boy keeps exploding into choreographed car karaoke. All of them are fussing over the sick dog and they get on each other’s nerves. Only the mysterious older brother is quiet which poses another question.
Director Panah Panahi, the son of jailed Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi, was born in Tehran in 1984, and studied cinema at the Tehran University of Art. With domestic and international film festival awards under his belt Hit The Road is his first feature-length movie. His depth of feeling traces back to his own experience of a family imperilled which is why the story oozes such tenderness.
Cast and Crew
Cast
Hassan Madjooni – Dad
Pantea Panahiha – Mom
Rayan Sarlak – Little Brother
Amin Simiar – Big Brother
Crew
Writer & Director: Panah Panahi
Director of Photography: Amin Jafari
Sound: Abdolreza Heydari
Editors: Ashkan Mehri & Amir Etminan
Music: Payman Yazdanian
Producers: Panah Panahi & Mastaneh Mohajer
In cinemas now
Ruth Greening holds a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology & Philosophy. Before retirement, she worked for over 40 years in the corporate world in Melbourne and Brisbane and progressed into senior management positions and project roles for both private industry and government.
In her 70th decade, she continues in casual roles as a freelance writer, model, and actor participating in small movies, TV commercials and User Generated Content.
As a grandmother, she is known as Nanny Babe to her grandchildren and writes from a Baby Boomer perspective on her blog www.nannybabe.com. An avid crafter Ruth actively participates in sewing, crocheting and knitting.
While she continues to pursue her artistic passions, Ruth is dedicated to maintaining her health and fitness as she ages by attending the gym, dancing and walking and thrives on mentoring others.
Connect with Ruth or our moniker Nanny Babe; nannybabegengp.blogspot.com.au/
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