Carmo, Hit the Road

Hello,

I'm back to share some of the fun and happenings of my trip to the Sundance Film Festival.

to start, i thought i'd share my thoughts on the film Carmo, Hit the Road. As i've mentioned with some concern, this was the only show i could find (from a list of over 200 offerings) that included direct representation of a person with a physical disability.

Synopsis:

Carmo, a sassy young woman who is tired of a small town spends her nights running from reality and into the gritty embrace of alcohol and uncouth men in hot sweaty bars. One night she is cornered by a drunk who is trying to take advantage of her...THIS is when Marco comes to her rescue. Marco is an unlikely hero taking on all challengers from the seat of his wheelchair. Marco is no saint. Carmo is more than any man's handful. Lives change and hearts desperately smolder as they wind their way (much of the time in Marco's dilapidated truck) across the beautiful South American countryside in a daring and dangerous run for freedom.

Thoughts/Reactions

My reactions to this film come after having had the benefit of a Q&A with the films writer/director, and principle actors after the showing.

With this in mind, it was obvious the filmmaker had a friend with paraplegia as a consultant in writing the script. I think this can be seen in the accuracy of the story details.

There were no miracle cures, no Marco spinning out into depression or angry rants at God over his misfortune. Marco just lived. (emphasis period).

Others hardly seemed to notice Marco's chair. People did not extend to him any handouts or acts of Good Samaritanism. If in fact I hadn’t heard the story conceptualization from the screenwriter and director, I would have argued that the opposite were true. They were trying to mistreat him in all the ways a protagonist can be physically challenged: shot at, chased, beat up and left for dead, the object of an attempted rape...

Also interesting in this film, the actor who played Marco was not disabled but clear he had taken the time to research his character and learn about life in a chair. Specifically, he said he spent a great deal of time learning how to balance back on two wheels (pop wheelies) and make believable looking transfers. As an audience member, the only problem I had here was that as a complete para he had overdeveloped muscles in his legs. Hardly something anyone could change though. No way even the most devout or serious thespian could arrive at the characteristic muscle wasting. I also found it a bit unrealistic that he was transferring without any assistance into the cab of a standard sized pick-up truck.

Random Thoughts:

Other thoughts I had about this film I'd like to leave open for discussion at another time. perhaps when others on this site have had a chance to catch it on Netflix or some other distribution (e.g. maybe it will show in small art theaters?)

Marco was his truck. that is his truck serves as a symbol of who he was as a person. it was a "disabled" vehicle. it was rough and ready to rumble at a moments notice but...when pushed to the limit it broke down.

Marco- paraplegia. Marco was a multi-dimensional character. Although I still envision him as primarily an angry character he was also vulnerable to Carmo. This could be seen most easily about 1/3 of the way through the film when the love story really began to develop. (e.g., he allows Carmo to take him into the river for a roadside bath and she holds him gently playing in the water).

In summary:

I would recommend you see this film. I found the emotions raw, accurate and real. I hope you too will notice the frustration and anger...Marco gets tired of always having to get the chair, of always needing Carmo to do that extra little thing for him when he just want to get up and GO!!!

...or i just need to chill a little? : )

On the down side this film is still rough and VERY gritty at times. Be prepared for an African American gay character who is represented as a homosexual pervert who wants to sleep with (rape) all straight men. As a general rule?...throughout the film there is a lot of unflattering, violent sex.

oh yes, and last thing. for reason to encourage you too watch this film...

Carmo & Marco- finally do have a sex scene!

wohoo!