New Zealand fest showing ‘Hit the Road’

Iranian feature ‘Hit the Road’ has been competing at the New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF).

Written and directed by Panah Panahi, the feature film is going on the NZIFF screen on November 9, 17 and 21.

‘Hit the Road’ follows a chaotic, tender family that is on a road trip across a rugged landscape, fussing over the sick dog and getting on each others’ nerves. Only the mysterious older brother is quiet.

Hassan Majouni, Pantea Panahiha, Rayan Sarlak, and Amin Simiar are on the cast list of the 93-minute movie.

“Crackling with energy and outbreaks of exuberant lip-syncing, riotously funny at times and quietly devastating at others...Panahi demonstrates a complete mastery of tricky tonal shifts: a very funny moment involving a cyclist is followed by a veiled heart to heart between the parents which gives some indication of the gravity of the journey,” wrote Wendy Ide of Screendaily.

“With a touch on the pedal so light you don’t even feel the woosh, Panah Panahi… goes instantaneously from zero to 60 with his debut feature… its 93 minutes whip by so airily, it’s possible not to realize how much you’ve learned to love the family whose road trip you’ve shared in, until the credits roll and you immediately start to miss them,” noted Jessica Kiang of Variety.

Currently vying at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia, ‘Hit the Road’ was a success during Directors' Fortnight at this year’s edition of the Cannes Film Festival in France.

It has also gone on screen at some global events, including the Singapore International Film Festival, the Chicago International Film Festival in the US, the Calgary International Film Festival in Canada and the Zurich Film Festival in Switzerland, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, the Vancouver International Film Festival in Canada, the Sydney Film Festival in Australia, the New Horizons International Film Festival in Poland, and the BFI London Film Festival in the UK, where it won the best film award.

The 50th edition of the NZIFF has been slated for November 5-21, 2021.

Read more:

Iranian feature ‘Hit the Road’ releases trailer

London fest awards Iran’s ‘Hit the Road’

MG/AG