The road film is the subject of the fantastic documentary "Wanderlust" by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. They had previously made the semi-documentary "American Splendor" which starred Paul Giamatti. Given these two examples, they are certainly filmmakers to watch. With "Wanderlust" they focus their attention on the seemingly American fascination with the open road and by association the road film. Using innumerable clips from nearly seventy years of film, excerpts from the likes of Jack Kerouac and Robert Pirsig, and interviews from filmmakers and cultural historians, the documentary presents an effective case for the road film as an echo of the social or political situation of their given time. It's a very watchable, interesting piece of film-making that succeeds at evoking an emotional response at unexpected points, mainly because this is more than just a clip show. It's a well-made film that leaves the viewer longing for the freedom of the open road with no particular destination in mind.
Review of Wanderlust
