Written and Directed by Panah Panahi
Starring Pantea Panahiha, Mohammad Hassan Madjooni, Amin Simiar and Rayan Sarlak

Hit the Road is the competent and committed debut feature film from Panah Panahi; son of Iranian film director and screenwriter Jafar Panahi (3 Faces, Tehran Taxi, Dayere). The journey that plays out in this Iranian road comedy-drama is inspired by a friend of Panah’s.

A car is parked by the side of a road surrounded by rugged landscape. Its occupants include a very chatty and rather precocious young boy and his father in the back seat. At the front is the boy’s mother and her older son; the driver and by far the quietest of them all. Where they are going is unknown and will remain that way for most of the film’s length. However, what is instantly clear is the mother’s concern at being traced and followed.

This road movie’s fuel is obtained via two sources. In a nutshell, its subtlety and familial bond. Many of the conversations shared by these four characters, or I should say three given the eldest son rarely contributes, tend to meander. Within these exchanges of dialogue though are sporadic hints and revelations pertaining to where and why they are heading to their destination and what they might expect along the way. Is it something to do with their ill dog also in the vehicle with them? Are they in fact on the run and if so who from? All the while, whatever the answers might be, it is the quietest occupant of the vehicle who possesses the most knowledge and the most talkative passenger of the car who knows the least, and is deliberately being kept oblivious to finding anything out. 

While Hit the Road’s subtlety is definitely a strength, there are certain conclusions I made that perhaps the script was never alluding to in the first place. As such, the reason behind one or two developments is left open to viewer interpretation and may remain unanswered. I became curious by the film’s trajectory and to see if it would utilise the young son in a similar way to what Belfast did with Buddy. Though I was left wondering if more could have been achieved by keeping him in the dark all throughout, Hit the Road assumes a raw and subtle power in its final moments that will remain with viewers long after.

Hit the Road is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from August 25th.

Moviedoc thanks Rialto Distribution and Annette Smith: Ned & Co for providing a screener link to watch and review this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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