Hit the Road: India

Hit the Road: India (2013)

*** (out of 4)

Good documentary about two friends who decide to tackle the 12-day Mumbai Xpress, which is a rally from Mumbai to Chennai and is according to many one of the greatest adventures in the world. HIT THE ROAD: India comes from co-directors Gor Baghdasaryan and Mushegh Baghdasaryan and I'll admit that the subject matter really didn't spike my interest very much. I really wasn't sure what to expect but by the time the 80-minute film was over I found myself entertained. I'm not going to call this a masterpiece or anything like that but if you're familiar with the old James A. FitzPatrick 'TravelTalks" shorts then I think you're going to enjoy this film. Those shorts just had FitzPatrick going to countless places and showing off the locations and the locals. The main attraction to this film is getting to see a city by city tour of India and this here is reason enough to watch the film. I thought the camera-work was quite good for a film like this and there's no question that the directors know where and how to shoot a scene. I'm not going to pretend to sit here and say what the directors were trying to do with this film. However, if it was to show off this event and the beauty of India then they're certainly succeeded. There are many memorable moments scattered throughout the film but I think one of the best things is that it actually makes you want to pack your bags and head to India to live some of this stuff for yourself. This was actually the first time I had ever heard of this race but it was interesting seeing the contestants make their way from various cities and the hardships that happened along the way. I think the one flaw with the picture is that I really didn't connect with the main people very much and I think a little more information about them would have made this journey better.

Hit the Road: India documents "The Mumbai Xpress," an annual event held in India where, over the course of twelve days, people from all different countries embark on the journey from Mumbai to Chennai, a 2000-kilometer voyage tackled in rickshaws (or "tuk-tuks"), a famous method of transportation in India. The brothers Baghdasaryan - Gor and Mushegh - choose to focus on Richard Gazarian and Keith King, an amiable pair of men who battle all sorts of hell and highwater trying to get to the destination of Chennai. From complications with the Indian police force, through horrid weather that limits visibility, and quite possibly the worst, most unreliable rickshaw in the history of the vehicle's manufacturing, the two friends try and push through so they can achieve the gratitude of finishing a mentally-taxing race.

Throughout the documentary, both Ric and Keith bring up how hard the race is to articulate to people back in the states because of the fact that Americans' knowledge of India is greatly limited and the idea of racing in another country isn't really understandable to many people who haven't been there in the first place. This documentary already serves its purpose just by stating this fact. Documentaries' purposes are to detail something the masses may or may not have a clear idea about, be it a political/social issue, a person, or, in this case, an event. Hit the Road: India, despite depicting its subjects' frustrations and annoyances while traveling in one of the most colorful and beautiful countries in the world, is a strong, contemporary look at Indian culture from a fly-on-the-wall perspective. In addition, the film is absolutely beautiful in its unrefined naturalism, almost making India a gorgeous, green-land we haven't fully discovered yet.

Its character-personalities are effortlessly engaging, always maintaining high-spirits despite clear frustrations. While the film's focus is intimately confined to these two men, it would've been nice to get a perspective from the other participants prior to the race to see what their motivations to racing were, along with the history of some of the places the two visit. In addition, there also could've been a stronger emphasis on Indian culture, talking with locals and examining certain cuisines.

However, those aren't necessarily flaws or issues. They're simply other focuses Hit the Road: India could've taken but didn't. The aforementioned would've turned a personal adventure into a cultural examination fit for a special on the Travel Channel (not to mention, this is kind of a race). Instead, the film becomes a personal piece - a travelogue of sorts, showcasing the beautiful landscape of a country that continues to fascinate, captivate, and mystify in all of its beauty. We are welcomed to see the enticing visuals of several different Indian locations and are allowed to watch them operate in a unique and naturalistic way. We don't invade, we simply observe.

The film reminds me of Around the Country: The Movie, a film made by the popular Youtube duo of Shawn C. Phillips and M.J. Kelley, who ventured from Baltimore, Maryland all the way to San Diego, California. While the adventure was because of Phillips moving there and it wasn't a race, the film was a personal journey for both parties who, like it or not, were stuck together for a long period of time. This kind of experience is rare and maybe necessary in order to test a friendship and show what you, yourself, are personally capable of.

Hit the Road: India is a bit slight but it provides for a pleasant look at a beautiful country. In the end, we come to the realization why the two men did what they did and how they're rewarded for it, physically and mentally. The film is a good time capsule but the event and pride taken away from it are a monumental achievement for two very kind-hearted souls.

Staring: Richard Gazarian and Keith King. Directed by: Gor Baghdasaryan and Mushegh Baghdasaryan.

I visited India last year and was more than happy to watch Gor Bahgdasayran's documentary involving a race across India featuring a bunch of contestants riding auto-rickshaws . Now I should from the outset put my cards on the table and state I'm not a fan of India and there's so much wrong with their culture . Everyone rightly criticises the misygonistic mind set of Muslim culture but Hindus aren't much better . Add to this the obscenity of the Caste system and arranged marriages and the only positive to come out of a Westerner returning from India is that it makes them apprieciate living in a secular democracy where the indivual is master of their destiny . On top of that bad news involving illness of a close family member effectively killed my trip and constantly found myself wishing I was back work surrounded by absolutely stunning female colleagues whose personalities were so life affirming they could reanimate the dead . It's a lonely hobby backpacking and the only real pleasure I got was listening to Dry The Rain by The Beta Band on my I-pod that reminded me of happier times

Dry The Rain would be the perfect soundtrack for Gor's documentary as Keith and Ric attempt to drive their rickshaw from Mumbai in the West coast of India to Chennai in the East via The Mumbai Express Rally as both men endure the race during the Monsoon season . A complaint about HIT THE ROAD is " poor cinematography " but to be honest if you had Roger Deakins as a cinematographer it wouldn't have made much difference because Monsoon rain is like nothing a Westerner has experienced . It's a brutal assault by H20 that limits visibility and lasts for hours . Even the dull dark grey skies that threaten rain have a depressing quality which is vividly captured in this documentary . What Gor has also managed to accurately capture is the chaotic hustle and bustle of a developing super power which in some ways is a bustling metropolis in one way and an under developed 19th Century third world nation where infrastructure is concerned . It goes without saying that being North Americans it doesn't take long for Keith and Ric to whine about the state and width of the narrow roads

Where the Documentary fails to a certain extent is that the audience aren't shown enough of the real India . As I said my own experiences of the sub continent aren't exactly complimentary and we're merely treated to a tourist eye view of the country . Ric and Keith visit a school but we don't really find out about the educational experiences of these children . What is life like for the average Indian child in a country that has a rigid social structure beset by religion ? We never find out and somewhat obviously though understandably the documentary concentrates on Ric and Keith . I wasn't all that keen on the soundtrack either . Did I mention Dry The Rain by The Beta Band is the perfect soundtrack for the Monsoon ?

All in all this is a fair tourist eye view of India . If you're mulling in your head as to what India may be like this won't put you off the country and does a fairly good job illustrating what the country is like on the surface . I would have preferred a bit more on the downside of the country . Perhaps if the rally followed the experiences of the female members this might have showed the manifest flaws of Indian culture ?

A very intense , riveting documentary, it was funny, it was serious , it was educational, it was inspiring, we thoroughly enjoyed it. great job to the both of you , Keith and Ric. having been to India ourselves, myself and my hubby can relate to the traffic conditions and how incredibly dangerous it is. it is a beautiful place to travel the people there treated us well, so seeing you both experience this and you made it look so easy , despite what you both went through you made us laugh and you touched our hearts in places with your kindness towards others. the filming was great, the soundtrack was great , we enjoyed the music. for anyone has hasn't been there, it is a learning tool. you get to experience an every day life in India.the extreme danger of it all, alone gave me chills. having meet both keith and ric in our travels to Thailand, we can honestly say ,they did a great job and we are proud of them both .

Across the great continent of India, two friends, Richard Gazarian and Keith King make the discovery of a lifetime. Securing a couple of cameras, backpacks and several different conveyances, along with their Motorcycles, these two intrepid travelers make their way across India during the traditional Monsoon. The Director Gor Baghdasaryan follows them as they travel over and through the narrow rain soaked, pot hole infested highway of India. Their dialog is sparse as is their meager provisions. Surviving being pelted by the incessant rain, several accidents and flat tires they nevertheless view India as a tourist would. The two young men remain stalwart in their resolve and arrive at their destination. For those of us who journey with them, a good adventure is in store, One which is envious from those who wish they can only dream of such an adventure, but remained behind in their armchairs. Recommended to the intrepid. ****