Director: Matty Hannon
Writers: Mike Balson, Matty Hannon
Stars: Matty Hannon, Heather Hillier, Robert Baty
Synopsis: The lives of two strangers are changed forever when they cross paths on the surfing adventure of a lifetime, discovering love, downshifting and four charismatic horses.
Like a László Kovács-shot from the New American Wave, The Road to Patagonia is a documentary that feels like a Wim Wenders fever dream, but also retains its unique identity as one man’s quest toward identity, exploration, and self-reflection.
The documentary is directed by Matty Hannon, who is also its central subject as he travels from Alaska to Patagonia. However, instead of focusing on the final destination, the film truly embodies the saying, “the journey is the treasure,” by allowing us to enjoy Hannon’s travels—like Gulliver’s before him—rather than eagerly anticipating his ultimate conquest at his last stop.
Like a modern-day Bodhi (Patrick Swayze in the stunning Point Break), Hannon follows his own philosophy. He harmonizes with the wind and the ocean. He captures moments as he finds himself stuck in his tent surrounded by a pack of wolves, or during his encounters with bears and moose. The documentary has no dull moments; it’s one adventure after another, showcasing 16 years of Hannon’s vibrant, adventurous life and captivating viewers with the honesty and sincerity of his narration and the up-close and personal videos he has been recording of himself throughout the years.
The documentary takes a profound turn when Hannon is joined by his girlfriend Heather Hillier, and, as viewers, we witness their blossoming love story. Hillier’s presence as Hannon’s companion shifts the mood of the film from a lone traveler’s conquest to a loving couple on the road, traversing mountains, oceans, and deserts, discovering lost civilizations and rare animal breeds. As they cut the roads together on their motorcycles, taken by the beauty of the landscape, they decide to slow down.
The film paints a somewhat naive, nostalgic view of the world. Admittedly, no one asked Hannon to write a thesis in anthropology, but the weakest point of a rather well-structured and constructed narrative is when Hannon veers into identifying the dichotomies of the world as black and white, east and west, etc. But when it’s all about the surf, the mountains, the dusty bumpy road, and a nomad lifestyle of two people who fell in love together in the most unlikely of circumstances, that’s where the documentary finds its strength.
One of the highlights of the documentary is the stunning cinematography by Hannon and Hillier. All the footage is shot by both of them, highlighting their artistry as well as their deep personal connection to the subject. It’s impressive, though, how poetic and ethereal their imagery is, shooting through a dreamlike, angelic filter that gives a fairytale aspect to Hannon’s journey. It takes many elements from Robby Müller’s style, as well as the visual simplicity of footage documentary filmmaking.
Some people are not born to settle in one place. They have restless souls that take them like tumbleweeds in the wind across continents, vales, and mountains. Hannon is one of those wanderers across the rugged earth. But instead of glorifying his White man conquest where his freedom to roam around countries and continents hassle-free and smoothly is of course, unproblematic and fun, he lays out his life as it is. He doesn’t sugarcoat or sand the rough surface. He doesn’t make a hero of himself, but stretches it as far as possible, with all the little idiosyncrasies involved. Even as the documentary staggers a little too long, in this case, the runtime is fully forgivable, for this stunning exploration of man, love, and nature is worth the wait.
The Road to Patagonia is on the Icon film channel, and will be in UK cinemas from 27 June.
