Trailer review - On the Road.

The much awaited adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s classic is coming soon and is brought to the screen by director Walter Salles. An interesting choice - the director of Central Station is familiar both with adaptations and road movies, one of his last critically acclaimed films being Motorcycle Diaries. This should draw the attention of the same public. One might even say that the filmmaker and the writer share common themes; loss and self-discovery through a meaningful travel experience.

It would take a great director to visually render the spirit of the book, its slice of truth and fleeting madness, the complexity of the characters, their fast-paced and constant wanderings and their destructive self-searching. To find the essence of Jack Kerouac’s spontaneous prose and at the same time emancipate the film from the literary masterpiece seems like a great challenge. But if we judge it by the trailer, we do recognize Walter Salles’ unique style. The film should prove interesting both as an adaptation and, independently, as a film in the artistic continuity of this director’s body of work.

For those who have read the novel (and if you haven’t, I strongly urge you to!), you know that the book certainly had "it", the question is: does the film have "it" too? 

We will find out on May 23rd!

In the meantime, let us quote one of the most striking sentences of the novel which is also to be found in the trailer... and I’m glad it is!

"... the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars..." 

Enjoy, and Viddy Well.

E. D.