Hit the Road

"Impressively made and touching debut. Demonstrates a skill and control of the medium that's rare for a first film, creating the kind of quiet miracles Iranian cinema is known for." —Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter

“Phenomenal! Thrillingly inventive, satisfyingly textured and infused with warmth and humanity, this is a triumph.” —Wendy Ide, Screen Daily

NOTICE: Please be aware that the temperature in the auditorium is warm because our A/C is under repair. We expect repairs to be completed soon. The latest updates will be posted here.

Hit the Road takes the tradition of the Iranian road-trip movie and adds unexpected twists and turns. It follows a family of four—two middle-aged parents and their sons, one a taciturn adult, the other an ebullient six-year-old—as they drive across the Iranian countryside. Over the course of the trip, they bond over memories of the past, grapple with fears of the unknown, and fuss over their sick dog. Unspoken tensions arise, and the film builds emotional momentum as it slowly reveals the furtive purpose for their journey. The result is a humanist drama that offers an authentic, raw, and deeply sincere observation of an Iranian family preparing to part with one of their own.

Panah Panahi, son and collaborator of embattled Iranian master Jafar Panahi, makes a striking feature debut. Panahi said that his father and the legendary Abbas Kiarostami were a big influence when he started as a filmmaker. "From childhood, I attended location scouting and was on set for my father's and Abbas Kiarostami's films. My parents mainly hang out with cinema people. I grew up in this environment, so I saw many films, and that inevitably formed my eyes."

Tickets to these screenings are $12.75 and under. Cinema members pay only $8.

Check out the rest of our New Releases program!