Glory Road Review
by Mark R. Leeper (markrleeper AT yahoo DOT com)November 10th, 2001
THE ROAD
(a film review by Mark R. Leeper)
CAPSULE: A philandering Kazakhstan filmmaker must leave his modern city and return to the rural countryside of his youth in order to visit his ailing mother. Along the way we see the world his country has given him and the world he has made for himself. This film is a co-production of France, Japan, Kazakhstan, and the Netherlands. Rating: 6 (0 to 10), +1 (-4 to +4)
The same film in different countries will send different messages and be a valuable viewing experience for different reasons. Not many Americans have much idea of what life is like in modern Kazakhstan. Are they just nomadic tribesmen? Do they have modern cities? Ask most Americans and they would not know. This film follows a Kazak filmmaker in a journey to visit his ailing mother and the film delves into his mind and his family problems, but for an American viewer the film also is educational. It is a view of Kazakhstan as it is today.
The film follows Amir, a filmmaker in a major city of Kazakhstan. Amir dreams of being highly respected in a position that does not seem to get much respect in his country. Amir is married with a child, but he still has an eye for attractive women. His wife clearly knows that he is attracted to other women and it creates tension. He is a man who is more boy than man and lives life without much thought for the consequences that may come crashing down on him like the rock held by a troglodyte figure he uses to decorate his bedroom.
Amir gets a message that his mother is ill. He must go to visit her. This will mean a day-long drive from the city to the countryside where Amir grew up.
As Amir drives he thinks about his work and about his life. He replays several times in his mind a scene in an upcoming film, rearranging it and trying variations. He thinks over a conflict about a sex scene he has put in a recent film. He wistfully remembers a scene from his youth.
As Amir drives we see a subjective view through his windshield. With him we see a transition from a modern city to a more primitive countryside. His son who watches Kung Fu movies and wears a Michael Jordan T-shirt would have no place in the region where his mother lives with its rural architecture and folk customs. The people he knew from his youth remain friends, but it is clear there is resentment of him and his fancy Peugeot.
Director Darezhan Omirbaev's style is operatic and slow. As the film opens we see Amir in sleep and just dwell on him for several beats. We trace his morning routine. At time the progress is slow. Other times the film is rich in insights.
THE ROAD shows us its character's outer landscape and his inner landscape. I rate it a 6 on the 0 to 10 scale and a +1 on the -4 to +4 scale.
Mark R. Leeper
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Copyright 2001 Mark R. Leeper
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
