A heartwarming tale effortlessly marrying sadness with humour, Hit The Road (جاده خاکی) is the directorial debut of Panah Panahi, son of famed director Jafar Panahi. It centres around a road trip that has little to do with leisure, but rather sees an ordinary family pressured into making a sacrifice they are not ready for.
Travelling across Iran with a rented car and a sick dog, a mother (Pantea Panahiha) talks lightheartedly to the rest of the family, but there’s sadness in her eyes. Her husband (Hassan Madjooni) grumpily deals with his physical ailments while their eldest son (Amin Simiar) drives quietly – but what looks like calm is fear in disguise. Meanwhile, they all try to keep up with the antics of the youngest son (a scene-stealing Rayan Sarlak), who is a little tornado of boisterous energy. The parents are tense, so they resort to songs and banter to alleviate their worries. As they travel through picturesque landscapes, the furtive purpose of their journey is gradually revealed.
The story develops at a leisurely pace which gives the audience a chance to get close to the characters as their moods fluctuate. Soft melodic music and Iranian songs accompany their journey, mimicking the mix of melancholy and nostalgia that the characters experience. The film doesn’t enter into the details of their life stories but rather dances around the issues that have placed them in this situation. The political critique is covert enough to dodge censure, but it is nevertheless detectable in many an exchange.
Panah’s father Jafar has had various clashes with the Iranian government that include his arrest in 2022, issued when he enquired after the wellbeing of two fellow filmmakers who had been detained. He was previously sentenced for what the government perceived as propaganda against the system in his films, and they sought to enforce this old sentence of which he had only served two months. Furthermore, in 2023 a 14 year long travel ban that was imposed on him was lifted. Hit The Road was born in such a climate, with directors making artistic choices that they know can lead to their voice and freedom being taken away.
Thus the story unfolds quietly, without any twists and turns and without upsetting the boat. However, it is still impactful in many ways. The artful cinematography by Amin Jaferi and top notch performances of the cast make this bittersweet quest a moving and soulful ride, as well as an outstanding debut feature.
The Immersive’s Verdict: The artful cinematography and top notch performances make this bittersweet quest a moving and soulful ride.
— Mersa Auda
