The surprise film at this year’s Cambridge Film Festival was Hit the Road.

As the initial title cards began to appear and the first few frames of the film were revealed, there was an absence of anticipation – much of the audience had probably never heard of the film. In comparison to some of the surprise films that have featured over recent years, most notably Academy Award nominated Roma and Martin Scorsese’s crime epic The Irishman, Hit the Road dwarfs in terms of stature. 

Any concerns that they were not in for a treat would have been misplaced, however, as Hit the Road more than matches up against those surprise films of the past in terms of its quality. To be clear, Hit the Road is not totally unknown – it was very well received at this year’s Cannes and the London Film Festival and is more than deserving of its place as the festival’s surprise film. 

The film follows an Iranian family as they road trip across harsh terrain to a destination that is unclear. A looming sense of trepidation hangs over the journey but at the film’s heart is a genuinely hilarious family dynamic as they bicker and personalities clash. It’s almost surprising how often this film will actually make you laugh, with the youngest boy Rayan Sarajevo and father Hassan Madjooni having particularly great comedic presence.

First time feature director, of which there are many at this festival, Panah Panahi has created something that feels truly fresh and authentic. Perhaps this is partly because family road movies set in Iran are not particularly common, but it has as much to do with the unique energy of the film. Every time a character breaks into song, and there are a few, the film moves beyond light and quirky to something far more beautiful and melancholic. The performance of Pantea Panahiha as the mother is so well layered, both tragic and uplifting and she reconciles with the feeling of pending loss. In a few brief moments when the score comes in and the camera pulls focus, the tone shifts entirely to something far more sincere and mysterious. 

Hit the Road will be released in the UK on 17th June 2022