Doroga

The entertainment value of "The Road" movie is quite high but do I need to see it in the cinema? The idea of "The Road Movie" sounds witty but can it live up to it? Not at all! These videos where just in a random order. I expected them to be a bit categorized or even arranged to a story (?). The randomness of it all was disappointing and I felt that I could watch the same thing at youtube (Russian Dashcam Compilation). Some scenes relied only on dialogues and they weren't even subtitled. It had some interesting moments when we watch a car crash happening and >10 people just stop their car, step outside, watch the wrecks, smoke and talk..It felt like a mirror being holded up and we even spent money to see the accidents! I had a good time seeing this and you will have too if the movie theater is crowded and the night is in full swing.

The Road Movie (Doroga) is a fresh and original example of citizen journalism. The people behind the wheel become "street" journalists sharing their dash camera videos. The movie has no an introduction and conclusion. This movie is a compilation of YouTube videos of Russian Roads. It eloquently expresses the metaphor of Russia as a country without limits or end. Additionally, this movie refers a well-known Russian phrase "Russia has two misfortunes: fools and roads." The directing is amazing and inspirational. Dmitrii Kalashnikov makes a contribution to the history of documentary cinema extending its framework. If motion pictures already have plotless structure (some Marvels sequels, Disney series), then until recently documentaries have been rarely exhibited. Kalashnikov, with his movie, increases the capabilities of documentaries, showing that the cinema is not only about embedded stories in written texts.

Russian dashboard camera footage has become sort of an internet cliche - filling youtube and even old-fashioned homevideo TV programs with crumpling metal and shattering glass of haphazard Russian road traffic, with drunken maniacs spliced in.

Fortunately The Road Movie isn't just a highlight reel of spinning car wrecks, but also includes both bizarre, tragic and humorous occurences. My personal favourite were the guys who talked about boozing and slaughtering some animal, but accidentally drove out and into a river, driver laconically commenting "That's it. We are sailing". Talk about Russian fatalism.

In a fact, the subtitles that actually open the discussions of (mostly) unseen passengers make the compilation stand out as a worthwile, though at times slightly boring documentary piece.

As a sidenote, one of the other reviews refer to the clip where we see a blazing fireball streak the sky and occupants of the car wonder what the heck it was - the guy who says it was a meteor was correct - it was so-called Chelyabinsk meteor that was (fittingly enough) captured by multiple Russian dashcams.

Could there be a more stereotypical look at the crazy Motherland than through a compilation of dashcam videos? Nope, and Dmitrii Kalashnikov, besides owning a kickass name, assembles a bucketful of OMG LOL snippets.

What elevates The Road Movie to actual movie status (and not just a throw away video mash up) is the rhythm, the pacing, and the brilliant commentary. Everyone's familiar with Youtube pavement fails, but when augmented with deadpan, often hilarious commentary (rough translation adds to the effect), the results are mesmerizing.

The Russians are a weird lot, and here's seventy (minutes) proof. Whether following a comet on the horizon, battling a persistent loony on the windshield, or calmly shooting a car to end a road rage incident, The Road Movie has just the right amount of comedic crazy and startling shock to remain watchable past the usual interweb span. You can't look away ... again, again, and again.

Zazdarovje.

I'd like to personally thank the Editor for giving the world an honest insight into the actual 'culture' (and I use that word at it's most stretched) of the Russian Federation. Almost 70 Minutes of mind-blowing ignorance, stupidity, violence and casual disregard for the safety of Children, Pedestrians, Passengers and fellow drivers (aimers? (is that a word?)) and the unmitigated failure of a 'Police Force.' This video demonstrates pretty much everything I saw as a 5 year appointee to the British Embassy there... if ever an entire countries citizens should be banned from driving on the roads outside of it's boundaries... we have Prime Candidate number One, right here.