Watch on Cineuropa: On the Road – Films about the power and necessity of movement
by eyelet
- Few things are as sacred and precious as the idea of travelling, and it is no wonder that freedom of movement should be regarded as an inalienable human right
Films about travels are as old as cinema itself; below, we’ve put together a few gems that shed light on the dangers, beauty, fun, and madness that come when you leave your comfort zone, and venture into the unknown.
Fasten your seatbelts - or don’t! - and enjoy these glorious journeys on our pages.
These titles are brought to you in partnership with eyelet (read the news), a streaming platform designed to give cinephiles around the world access to the very best in independent cinema. In conjunction with eyelet, we are now able to showcase films we’ve been reviewing over the years - titles you can stream and read about on Cineuropa. Stay tuned for the new movies coming your way soon!
Freedom [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jan Speckenbach
film profile] – Jan Speckenbach
A woman leaves husband and children without saying goodbye or giving any explanations for the escape, in Jan Speckenbach’s tribute to the power of freedom, and the traumas that come attached with it.
On the Road [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Walter Salles
The most iconic book from one of history’s most legendary writers gets an engrossing screen adaptation by Walter Salles, a tribute to the power of travels to change us in unexpected and extraordinary ways.
Wandering Girl [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rubén Mendoza, Sofía Paz Ja…
film profile] – Ruben Mendoza
Four estranged sisters, and a spell-binding journey through Colombia. Rubén Mendoza’s “Wandering Girl” picked up awards all around the festival circuit. Now is your chance to watch it.
Alamar – Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio
Writer, editor, and director Pedro González-Rubio conjures a journey of spellbinding beauty and candour with his Alamar, a portrait of a father and young son who reunite for one last memorable adventure on the Mexican sea before life will pull them forever apart. An idyllic ode to a slice of the Earth we must preserve for future generations.
Journey to the West [+see also:
trailer
film profile] – Tsai Ming-liang
Tsai Ming-liang entry in his Walker series follows a monk around the sun-dappled streets of Marseille, as he recruits an unexpected acolyte in the form of the iconoclast French actor Denis Lavant. A powerful and poetic ode to the act of walking, and a reminder of the importance of widening your horizons.
Kati Kati [+see also:
trailer
film profile] – Mbithi Masya
A young woman wakes up in a small village with no memory of her life or name. She’s not alone: the village, called Kati Kati, is home to a smattering of other amnesiacs. Are they alive, dead, or dreaming? A mesmeric work by Kenyan director Mbithi Masya.
Faces Places [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Agnes Varda and JR
An indelible and joy-filled work by director Agnès Varda and photographer-cum-muralist JR, “Faces Places” follows the two as they journey through rural France and form an unlikely friendship along the way. A celebration of humanity - and the art of traveling - unlike any other in recent memory.
Crab Trap [+see also:
trailer
film profile] – Oscar Ruiz Navia
A stranger shows up in a beach-front village in Colombia’s Pacific coast. It’s a community of African-descended locals, and he’s the only white boy in town, only arrived in order to go. What is he running from? Oscar Ruiz Navia’s debut film is a dreamlike tale of the clash between tradition and modernity.
Babai [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Visar Morina
film profile] – Visar Morina
A few years after the fall of the Berlin wall, a man leaves Kosovo for Germany. But he’s left a son behind, and Visar Morina’s heartrending “Babai” follows the boy on his difficult odyssey to find his father - a harrowing tale of resilience and survival.
Valley of Love [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Guillaume Nicloux
Isabelle and Gérard haven’t seen each other for years, but when a strange invitation arrives, they meet again in the Death Valley, California. The invite was sent from their son Michael. Six months ago, the man took his own life. A lacerating tale of grieving and healing, graced with stupefying performances from Depardieu and Huppert.
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