We Pedal Uphill

http://www.cinemavillage.com/chc/cv/show_movie.asp?movieid=1520

We saw this yesterday at Cinema Village. Very powerful!! From the opening scene throughout, I was captured by the suspense and the emotion...and my mind was turning! Roland Tec does not tell you what to think nor put every detail together, rather creates powerful and moving vignettes that open one's heart and come more alive and present through interaction with one's own thoughts. The stories-and film as a whole-interact with the viewer. Each person comes away with a slightly varied impression, and richer from the experience!

Each of the 13 vignettes is full on its own. However, the arrangement of them is done in a way that echoes certain threads and increases drama and potency. There is even comic relief that can only come from seeing the realness of human character placed in the preposterousness that is often life.

I am impressed by many elements of this film. The understanding of human nature and unbalances of our society are portrayed in distinct ways and suggest keen insight and awareness throughout the making of We Pedal Uphill. The symbolism and multiple levels of expression of this film through the characters, the settings and the music are still resonating in my soul.

I particularly appreciated how the intricacies of racism were portrayed. Racism is often fueled by how one expects another of a certain culture, skin color, or background to be. In the singer's story I felt her pain at each step. Seemingly little acts have huge affect. As the story developed the many levels and repercussions became more apparent. The lyrics "...you belong to me" took on a duplicity of meaning, and then a multiplicity as passing the recruiting station of all black youth. Through other stories too, many of us cringed in our seats as we watched obvious and not so obvious transgressions of how one human should treat another.

This film is important to see. It opens up many avenues for discussion and sharing. I feel my sensitivity to the world was tuned in a sense. I certainly am not exactly the same person I was before seeing the thirteen stories that make up We Pedal Uphill.

We Pedal Uphill is entertaining enough to keep me watching, which is not a trivial accomplishment considering the fact that I probably have some form of ADD, at least when it comes to watching movies. Unlike other reviewers, I was not bowled over by its power and profound insight into how neurotic our country has become in recent years. Maybe it's because they saw it while Bush was still in office and I didn't.

One of the best things on the DVD is Roland Tec's commentary. It is lighthearted and intelligent and does much to dispel the rather pompous and weighty view people seem to have taken of his movie. He and his collaborators talk about how political some of the earlier-filmed segments were in comparison to the more relaxed and less paranoid view of some of the later segments (in order of filming, NOT of presentation).

In general, the movie is entertaining and well-constructed; but it's not the work of profound, life-altering and transcendent genius some reviewers say it is. The title segment, in which PR folks agonize over an upcoming Presidential cycling photo-op, is hilarious.