Directed
by Dmitrii Kalashnikov. (2016/67 min).
AVAILABLE
ON BLU-RAY FROM
Review
by Fluffy the Fearless😸
Dash
cams (dashboard cameras) are apparently very popular in Russia. In
the interview included on this disc, director Dmitrii Kalashnikov
says they're good for insurance purposes, as well as settling
disputes with other drivers. After all, the camera never lies.
Based
on the footage Kalashnikov has compiled, the camera never sleeps,
either. The Road Movie is a collection of incidents - from the
humorous to the bizarre to the tragic - captured by automobile dash
cams. What separates this film from the sensationalism of
caught-on-camera TV shows is that no narration is provided...no
set-up, no manufactured drama, no technical enhancement. All we see is what the cameras
capture, all we hear are the drivers' reactions (which includes
enough f-bombs to rival a Martin Scorsese film).
 |
| The Adequate Seven |
Kalashnikov
must have sifted through an unholy amount of footage to assemble this
film, which includes the now-infamous shots of a meteor strike in
2013. Not every segment is that spectacular, though we do witness
some jaw-dropping car accidents (a few of which appear to be fatal),
two terrified motorists trying to drive through a raging forest fire
and - most jarringly - just how little reaction time a driver has
when an animal picks the worst moment to cross the road.
 |
| Moving day with Russell Crowe. |
No
film like this would be complete without presenting a variety of idiots, whack-jobs and examples of extreme road rage. We see quite a
few folks display decidedly antisocial tendencies during driving
discrepancies. Elsewhere, some scenes go on a bit too long where nothing
interesting happens, but just as often, the wait results in a
shocking or hilarious pay-off. And if nothing else, we learn where
Russians go to wash their tanks.
Obviously,
The Road Movie isn't high art. But while morbidly fascinating,
it doesn't wallow in sensationalism to placate the yahoo crowd,
either. And with a running time of just over an hour, the film
doesn't wear out its welcome.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
"DASH
CAM DOCUMENTARY" - Interview with director Dmitrii Kalashnikov.
2
SHORT FILMS BY DMITRII KALASHNIKOV - "Waiting for the Show"
& "Film About Love"
TRAILER
KITTY CONSENSUS:
PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS
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