A Thousand Miles Behind

This movie takes us on a memorable "ride" through one man's tragic grief story. I found myself drawn into his pain; no easy task for most men to admit, or to deal with. No easy answers or clichés-just a subtle, honest picture of Preston's real-life emotion, and unexpected compassion from a stranger. The 1,000 miles will take you through scenery that is both stark and beautiful. This movie is not just for bikers.

Truly, this film is what cinema is all about because it touches on what so many of us struggle with. The movie has a lot of depth to it, and while there are parts that are a bit cheesy, there is plenty that makes up for it. If Hollywood was to make more original films like this one, and I know there are plenty of excellent writers out there, they could really help the people see things from a far more evolved and meaningful way. Movies truly are a book in picture and we can learn so much from them if we are presented with great books, writers, and artists, but instead we focus all that talent and make things blow up, film a person being murdered and watch the blood come from their wound or see some get strangled for the whole duration that it takes to kill someone. Why do we need to see so much violence? Why do we thirst to see others suffer? I think this movie touches on that because we are all hurting and when we are hurting we like to see others hurting worse than we are because it makes the pain we all have feel a little better. So many of us are so afraid of being vulnerable and sharing our grief and sadness whilst putting a mask, that in our inauthentic lives, we have forgotten that our pain is what makes all humans similar, and it unifies us because its something we all share, but we like to pretend we aren't suffering because that leaves us vulnerable. Unfortunately, this type of thinking may protect us in the moments when we feel we might be exposed, but in the end, what type of life is worth living being someone who we really aren't, and so afraid of others judging us that we pretend our way through life just like an actor in a film? The real vulnerability is not being who we are and rejecting what our creator made, whether you believe in a God or not, nothing is more disrespectful to that which created you than to be something other than how you were made, and even worse, making yourself an island so that those who need you the most will never truly be able to know you or your love because love is absolute vulnerability.

I'm SHOCKED by the negative reviews. Did we watch the same film? It deserved all the festival awards it received and more! It challenged me in a powerful way to be more patient and compassionate towards people struggling with loss...including myself. Vanessa Campbell radiated kindness in the most refreshing and heartwarming way. I loved her character! A tragic story, beautifully told and acted. Will definitely watch for more from this director!

Beautiful, heartfelt movie about loss and healing. When his wife and daughter are killed by a drunk driver, Preston completely shuts down. Then, when he discovers someone has left a motorcycle at his back door, he goes on a road trip. Along the way, he mets a fellow camper who helps him handle his grief and helps him along his path to healing. Beautiful scenery and a soulful soundtrack help make this a memorable and touching experience. Highly recommended.

This film is wonderful. It's a stripped-back style of filmmaking, and takes its time really exploring the central character's isolation in dealing with his grief. So many films that deal with themes of loss do so in a very melodramatic way, so it's refreshing to find one that centers on the heartbreaking performance from Doornbos in its quiet moments more than its loud ones. Really hope we'll be seeing more of him in other films where he can be in the spotlight.