Film of the Day: 47
Goin' Down the Road (1970)
Hollywood has always been known for its epics, its action movies and of course the Rom-Coms. There have been so many Hollywood attempts at realism. Yet when it comes to a drama about the real world with real people and their problems; well let's face it, the independent film-makers will always know better.
Independent film-makers have no budget for some epic set or a gorgeous location, nor do they have the budget for an all star cast. So without these Hollywood elements, we get something different, we get something real. Just like Courtney Hunt's amazing film Frozen River three years back, Donald Shebib's Goin' Down the Road is an absolute treasure.
With a budget of under $90,000, we got a film about two average men (Pet & Joey) from Nova Scotia, Canada who drive down to Ontario in their 1960 Chevy Impala, in an effort to benefit from it's fast growing economy. Once they get there, they find out that just because they are in the big city (Toronto), doesn't mean they're going to get a great job instantaneously (as neither of them are well educated).
They end up working for minimum wage jobs (still a better pay than back home) and of course start to wander down town on Yonge Street where the action is. They end up meeting some girls and Joey gets serious with his girl, but things don't always go as they plan.
I am thinking of this movie today because today is a very important day for me, as today, ever since 1867, we celebrate Canada Day. We have parades, carnivals, festivals, fireworks, BBQs (of course with some beer and poutine) and I myself, living in London at the moment will celebrate Canada Day at Trafalgar Square near the Canada House.
This is one of the best films to ever come out of Canada along with a few other little films like The Grey Fox, My Winnipeg, My Uncle Antoine, Black Christmas (a film that influenced Halloween), Exotica or the films of Allan King. It has even been ranked the 5th greatest film to ever come out of Canada.
What makes the film so great is the performances that just seem so damn real, and totally true-to-life. Many of the film's scenes were completely improvised on the spot by Doug McGrath Paul Bradley (Joey & Pet). I think Goin' Down the Road can be seen as a modern day The Grapes of Wrath. and has the same film-making style of films like Easy Rider or Who's That Knocking At My Door? but mostly in the fashion of a Cassavetes film. With it's hand held camera and it's pure honest story telling and the beautiful song 'Going Down The Road' by Bruce Cockburn.
It's a shame that this film (like The Grey Fox) has been forgotten outside of Canada, Roger Ebert even placed the film on his top 10 list of best films of the year (giving it a full four stars). It has even been said that director Donald Shebib would like to do a sequel.
My father had told me about this film, as he moved to Canada in 1968 and watched this film when it came out. He was so moved by the film for its raw direction and performances. Not to mention, he as well did the same move as the characters did in the film, only instead of Nova Scotia to Toronto, it was Malta to Toronto.
If you enjoy films about real people or just need a break from Hollywood, be sure to check this legend of Canadian film-making, and Happy Canada Day!
Click here for a clip
Independent film-makers have no budget for some epic set or a gorgeous location, nor do they have the budget for an all star cast. So without these Hollywood elements, we get something different, we get something real. Just like Courtney Hunt's amazing film Frozen River three years back, Donald Shebib's Goin' Down the Road is an absolute treasure.
With a budget of under $90,000, we got a film about two average men (Pet & Joey) from Nova Scotia, Canada who drive down to Ontario in their 1960 Chevy Impala, in an effort to benefit from it's fast growing economy. Once they get there, they find out that just because they are in the big city (Toronto), doesn't mean they're going to get a great job instantaneously (as neither of them are well educated).
They end up working for minimum wage jobs (still a better pay than back home) and of course start to wander down town on Yonge Street where the action is. They end up meeting some girls and Joey gets serious with his girl, but things don't always go as they plan.
I am thinking of this movie today because today is a very important day for me, as today, ever since 1867, we celebrate Canada Day. We have parades, carnivals, festivals, fireworks, BBQs (of course with some beer and poutine) and I myself, living in London at the moment will celebrate Canada Day at Trafalgar Square near the Canada House.
This is one of the best films to ever come out of Canada along with a few other little films like The Grey Fox, My Winnipeg, My Uncle Antoine, Black Christmas (a film that influenced Halloween), Exotica or the films of Allan King. It has even been ranked the 5th greatest film to ever come out of Canada.
What makes the film so great is the performances that just seem so damn real, and totally true-to-life. Many of the film's scenes were completely improvised on the spot by Doug McGrath Paul Bradley (Joey & Pet). I think Goin' Down the Road can be seen as a modern day The Grapes of Wrath. and has the same film-making style of films like Easy Rider or Who's That Knocking At My Door? but mostly in the fashion of a Cassavetes film. With it's hand held camera and it's pure honest story telling and the beautiful song 'Going Down The Road' by Bruce Cockburn.
It's a shame that this film (like The Grey Fox) has been forgotten outside of Canada, Roger Ebert even placed the film on his top 10 list of best films of the year (giving it a full four stars). It has even been said that director Donald Shebib would like to do a sequel.My father had told me about this film, as he moved to Canada in 1968 and watched this film when it came out. He was so moved by the film for its raw direction and performances. Not to mention, he as well did the same move as the characters did in the film, only instead of Nova Scotia to Toronto, it was Malta to Toronto.
If you enjoy films about real people or just need a break from Hollywood, be sure to check this legend of Canadian film-making, and Happy Canada Day!
Click here for a clip
Hehe you got a good one here today son... very nostalgic to me and it depicts the 70's reality of Canadian Life. Love this movie!
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