VFF Best of The Fest: Romantic Road

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Monday, February 19th, 2018
Mon, Feb 19, 5:30 PM & 7:45 PM Tue, Feb 20, 5:30 PM & 7:45 PM Web, Feb 21, 5:30 PM & 7:45 PM Thu, Feb 22, 5:30 PM & 7:45 PM

Mon, Feb 19 to Thu, Feb 22 at 5:30 PM & 7:45 PM BEST OF THE FEST

Rupert & Jan Grey, both in their mid-sixties, have raised three daughters in a draughty old cottage in the south of England. Now empty-nesters and approaching retirement from their careers as a lawyer and bereavement visitor, Rupert and Jan are experiencing a case of wanderlust. Eschewing group tours and luxurious cruises, an invitation to be guests of honour at a Human Rights festival in Bangladesh sparks their sense of adventure. An undeniable eccentric, Rupert approaches his life with a ‘why not’ attitude. This leads him to crate their family car, a battered and well-loved 1936 Rolls Royce, and ship it across an ocean to Mumbai, where the recent retirees pick it up and embark on a cross-continent road trip. Over six months and 8000 kilometres they travel side by side encountering maharajahs and tribal conflicts. Trips of this kind are often more about the journey than the destination and Romantic Road is no exception.

Oliver McGarvey’s first feature film shows great commitment to his craft and sensitivity to his subjects, whom he happens to have known since childhood. McGarvey is also the sole crewperson travelling with his old family friends, a position which offers him a unique perspective on the couple and their novel escapade. Stunning landscapes pass through every scene in this heartfelt travelogue, seen through the eyes of a couple who are willing to take risks and deepen their long-lasting relationship. Encapsulating the idea that age is but a number, Rupert & Jan provide a shining example that it’s never too late to take a trip on the wild side. https://www.victoriafilmfestival.com/box-office/vic-films/romantic-road-2/