After its world premiere at Cannes last July, Iranian Panah Panahi‘s “Hit The Road” quickly became one of the must-see films from the festival. No doubt part of that is due to Panahi’s father, Jafar Panahi, one of the touchstone filmmakers of the Iranian New Wave. Now, “Hit The Road” gets its US theatrical release next month.
Panahi’s debut offers a quirky look at a family as they cross Iran’s rugged landscape while on a road trip. Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
Panah Panahi, son and collaborator of embattled Iranian master Jafar Panahi, makes a striking feature debut with this charming, sharp-witted, and deeply moving comic drama. HIT THE ROAD – featured at the Cannes and New York festivals, among many others – takes the tradition of the Iranian road-trip movie and adds unexpected twists and turns. It follows a family of four – two middle-aged parents and their sons, one a taciturn adult, the other an ebullient six-year-old – as they drive across the Iranian countryside. Over the course of the trip, they bond over memories of the past, grapple with fears of the unknown, and fuss over their sick dog. Unspoken tensions arise and the film builds emotional momentum as it slowly reveals the furtive purpose for their journey. The result is a humanist drama that offers an authentic, raw, and deeply sincere observation of an Iranian family preparing to part with one of their own.
“Hit The Road” stars Hassan Madjooni, Pantea Panahiha, Rayan Sarlak, and Amin Simiar. Panahi writes and directs the film.
Catch “Hit The Road” in theaters when its limited release starts on April 22. The film also hits streaming later this year in July. Check out the trailer below.