A True Story of Dedication

Read Time:2 Minute, 39 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Hit the Road (Jaddeh Khaki)
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Genre: Drama
Year Released: 2021 (Cannes Directors' Fortnight,) 2022 (Wider release)
Runtime: 1h 33m
Director(s): Panah Panahi
Writer(s): Panah Panahi
Cast: Pantea Panahiha, Hasan Majuni, Rayan Sarlak, Amin Simiar, Masoud Tosifyan
Where To Watch: It opens Friday, May 27, in Chicago at The Music Box Theatre

Every once in a while, looking at upcoming films, you’ll see one that just speaks to you. Sometimes it’s quite literally just the poster artwork that makes you realize that it’s a must-see film. Sometimes there can be other things, the synopsis, an actor, director, etc., but it was 100% that poster in this case. If you haven’t seen the poster, please go check it out! I don’t remember the last time a poster so instantly moved me for a film. There’s something so simple about it, and yet at the same time, it simply features Little Brother (Rayan Sarlak), but if pictures could speak, this one would tell a world of stories.

Something special about a true story is they offer something unique that even the best works of fiction could never create in someone's mind. A story inspired by the director/writer Panah Panahi’s friend who told them about his journey, each moment is real and was taken from their trip. That says a lot about what lets people connect so easily with this film.

One of my favorite parts of the film is that it gives a unique view of a culture that most assume they know. While the director didn’t intend for this result, it was a bonus that showed the similarities that often go overlooked. The culture in Iran usually has a very stereotypical view, especially from America; hopefully, this and other films like it open those doors and show a little more of what that world is like.

While I go out of my way to not spoil things in movies, I will say that a particular scene in the film is very much “out of place.” While making the film, the director realized that this scene was partially based on 2001, A SPACE ODYSSEY, so they leaned into it and made it an homage to the film instead of just something similar.

The film's soundtrack was filled with hits of the director's formative years. I often think of how many songs I grew up with and how amazing it would be to design a soundtrack based on my influences growing up. As a bonus, the songs “were sung by artists who had to flee abroad after the revolution,” highlighting even more how important the sounds of this film are!

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