The Journey is the Destination
In a world that shrinks a little more every day, real adventure real adventure is increasingly difficult to come by, but for Gwendal Castellan, it's as necessary as life's blood. Gwendal's peregrinations, both physical and spiritual, are well captured in the feature documentary Long Road North.
Gwendal's initial plan was to ride his custom-built tandem bicycle from the southernmost tip of South America to the Canadian Arctic. Like most adventures, things didn't go exactly as planned. Problems with his bike were only the beginning: threats of Colombian guerillas, oblivious motorists, and the occasional alligator further complicated matters. But it was the blank incessant glare of the sun that turned out to be his worst enemy, shown by the pebbly red rash that broke out on his neck and arms. Despite the obstacles, Gwendal and crew kept on, mile after mile, documenting the slow transition of the land and the people they encountered.
From the windswept austerity of Patagonia to the lush jungles of Colombia, through Mexico and into the badlands of Texas, smaller moments in the film jump out at you. One of the most noticeable is the enormous difference between North and South American grocery stores. American mega-marts, lush with choice but entirely without soul, are worlds away from the mobile riverboats that plow the waterways of Central Brazil, bringing groceries and gossip from the outside world to the locals. Even more notable is the sudden change in attitude when the riders cross the US border, and are treated more like vagrants than adventurers.
Co-directed by cinematographer Ian Hinkle and Castellan, Long Road North does meander a bit. Another editor might have trimmed the endless shots of bicycles on lonely stretches of road. An over-reliance on narration is also a bit of problem.
Far more interesting than the scenery are the little glimpses into the interpersonal dynamics of the people involved. As Gwendal is joined by different riders along the way, navigating the tricky territory between family and friends becomes more complex. Nowhere is this more evident than when his girlfriend Tania Lo joins him and the trip becomes an acid test for their new relationship. Or as Tania says, "Staring into my boyfriend's back, and breathing in his farts all day long just isn't that romantic."
As long as you don't have to smell him, Gwendal makes a charming road companion. He does foolish things, tries to cope, fails, and ultimately perseveres. It's this fundamental honesty that gives Long Road North its unexpected amount of heart. By the time the travellers roll into Canada's enormous northern wilderness, the expedition has become much more than a bike trip. It is truly a journey in the best sense of the word.Long Road North screens at the documentary DOXA Film Festival in Vancouver (May 27 to June 1, 2008).
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