We Pedal Uphill (2008)

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Director:

Roland Tec

Writer:

Roland Tec (writer)

Release Date:

1 September 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | History

Tagline:

Stories from the States

Plot:

We Pedal Uphill paints an uncompromising portrait of a country at odds with itself-America, post-9/11...

Cast

Polly Adams	...	Nancy
Jenny Bacon	...	Phyl
Judith Barcroft	...	Constance
Stephen Bienskie	...	Steph
Ian Blackman	...	Lewis
Kate Blumberg	...	Daryl
Tom Bozell	...	Jimmy
Peter Bubriski	...	Smith
Marylouise Burke	...	Linda
Cori Lynn Campbell	...	Deanna
Sandi Carroll	...	Angie
Ellen Colton	...	Esther
Nat DeWolf	...	Ben
David Drake	...	Andy
Marissa Danielle Duricko	...	Monica
Alvin Epstein	...	Mortimer
Bruce Faulk	...	Mark
Maureen Keiller	...	Rita
John Magaro	...	Kyle
Peggy Ann O'Neal	...	Bored Tourist
Paul Outlaw	...	Whitman
Carl Palmer	...	Al
Rick Park	...	Kelly
Charles Parnell	...	Horton
Nicholas Pelczar	...	Derek
Merle Perkins	...	Sonya
Molly Powell	...	Sandi
Molly Purves	...	Lucy
Robert Saoud	...	Jones
Cherlyn Schaefer	...	Santa Fe Tourist
J. Tucker Smith	...	Mather
R. Tucker Smith
Roland Tec	...	Joel
Stephen Barker Turner	...	Oliver
Matt Walton	...	Anthony
Kate Weiman	...	June

Also Known As:

Red State Project: An American Quilt in Film (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Colorado, USA

Company:

Pinkplot Productions

Soundtrack:

I'll Be Waiting

Just saw this!! Fabulous!! Must see by 3/26/09 in NYC -or rent from Netflix

http://www.cinemavillage.com/chc/cv/show_movie.asp?movieid=1520

We saw this yesterday at Cinema Village. Very powerful!! From the opening scene throughout, I was captured by the suspense and the emotion...and my mind was turning! Roland Tec does not tell you what to think nor put every detail together, rather creates powerful and moving vignettes that open one's heart and come more alive and present through interaction with one's own thoughts. The stories-and film as a whole-interact with the viewer. Each person comes away with a slightly varied impression, and richer from the experience!

Each of the 13 vignettes is full on its own. However, the arrangement of them is done in a way that echoes certain threads and increases drama and potency. There is even comic relief that can only come from seeing the realness of human character placed in the preposterousness that is often life.

I am impressed by many elements of this film. The understanding of human nature and unbalances of our society are portrayed in distinct ways and suggest keen insight and awareness throughout the making of We Pedal Uphill. The symbolism and multiple levels of expression of this film through the characters, the settings and the music are still resonating in my soul.

I particularly appreciated how the intricacies of racism were portrayed. Racism is often fueled by how one expects another of a certain culture, skin color, or background to be. In the singer's story I felt her pain at each step. Seemingly little acts have huge affect. As the story developed the many levels and repercussions became more apparent. The lyrics "...you belong to me" took on a duplicity of meaning, and then a multiplicity as passing the recruiting station of all black youth. Through other stories too, many of us cringed in our seats as we watched obvious and not so obvious transgressions of how one human should treat another.

This film is important to see. It opens up many avenues for discussion and sharing. I feel my sensitivity to the world was tuned in a sense. I certainly am not exactly the same person I was before seeing the thirteen stories that make up We Pedal Uphill.