Hit the Road

(I believe that this movie is very Iranian and may confuse or tire foreign viewers, for example, why is the cheating of that cyclist interesting? Or what is the story of Lake Urmia, which has become a barren desert, etc.) But for me, as an Iranian, that is exactly the reason I watch movies.

The challenge of "laughing to hide the sadness" does not leave not only the characters of the movie, but also the audience for a moment.

This movie is far away from Iranian cliché and every moment of it is surprising while is simple as well. The acting is brilliant, even the young actor.

The depth of the story is felt by those who have been involved in the migration phenomenon. Those who once only saw the beauty of their homeland and kissed its soil with love.

However, I think the movie should have ended in the night sky scene; Or at least in the foggy morning scene.

The war doesnt end when the last bullet is fired. The aftermaths of the war are so deep it takes a lot to get out of that, even after the war is over. The numbness it creates into our heart to the things which otherwise would have split our soul into pieces. We have to act hard on the things which are tearing us apart. The story is good, you can feel the tension in the car. The extreme steps and the heart they have to bear for this. Things dont always pan out the way we think. Almost all 10-12 year kids are annoying. He played his part best. He is like the audience, not knowing what is happening around them. Visuals were great. Also, the persian music hits too close to home. Start is a bit wobbly but it catches on later, some parts seems stretched but overall nice experience.

I saw hit the road at Cannes Film Festival and with no prior expectations, was rewarded with a wonderful film, complete with memorable performances from an extremely talented cast. Beautiful and varied landscape shots intersperse the interior of the car where much of the film takes place. Humour (namely from the captivating young actor Rayan Sarlak), well chosen music and great writing, help to balance out the darker undertone of the movie. Mature, bold and most definitely worth watching. Bravo!

"Long takes statically home in on the characters, who are often inside the vehicle in close vicinity to the camera, whose unspoken emotion and poignant expression is what audience dwells on. As an impending departure is on the horizon, feigned playfulness flakes off a mother's face and bares irrepressible sorrow; a father's habitual sulkiness morphs into resigned tenderness and advice-dispensing, yet his prolong incapacitation (with one injured leg in plaster cast) might take on a more figurative signification here. The only constant is the younger son, whose bratty, sassy cuteness inclines to get under one's skin in no time.

However, when the chips are down, a fixed wide shot keeps the emotional leave-taking in the yonder, a scenic composition with people reduced to ciphers, but its effect is no less impactful, the mother's scurrying desperation is all the more visceral in one's imagination. After a botched last goodbye, HIT THE ROAD finishes with a threnody for the moribund pet dog, vicariously it is also for the departed, but the lip-syncing gimmick seems to push the film towards mawkishness."

-

The debut movie of one of the my favourite Iranian filmmaker Jafar Pahani's son Panah Pahani. A perfect road trip comedy movie with heart stakes and unforgettable characters.

This movie is simultaneously lighter and deeper.

Filled with equal parts goofy laughs, humanistic

warmth and philosophic inquiry. Subtly reveals its deeper layers with a light touch. Talent clearly runs strong within the Panahi family. All the performances were so good, specially the child actor Rayan Sarlak's little brother character deserves to be in the hall of fame of great child characters. He is an absolute gem..