This film is part of Rentals
On the Road
Walter Salles’ vibrant adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s seminal novel follows three youths from the beat generation as they traverse America.
Director: Walter Salles
Overview
Walter Salles’ vibrant adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s seminal novel follows three youths from the beat generation as they traverse the different landscapes of America. Sal Paradise (Control’s Sam Riley) has the pen and paper, but is lacking in inspiration. That is, until he meets the passionate and fearless young couple Dean and Marylou (Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart). They have a hunger of taking risks, seeing more, and living their lives. Together the three drive across the country, meet fascinating characters (played by Amy Adams, Viggo Mortensen, and more), and form their own unhinged ideal of the American dream.
Jack Kerouac was the voice of the beat generation in the 20th century, and it’s with boldness and beautiful charisma that filmmaker Walter Salles tackles his dynamic novel. The ensemble cast is committed and illuminating – especially Stewart, in one of her first post-Twilight roles. She captures the generation’s verve and sensuality, bringing an edge but also vulnerability to the role. On the Road is a film that reaffirms the adage: it’s not where you’re going that matters, but how you get there.
Contains strong sex and drug use, and strong language
Related
Lean on Pete Lean on Pete
Drama 2018 122 mins Director: Andrew Haigh
The ravishing fourth feature from Andrew Haigh (45 Years, Weekend) sees a boy and a horse embark on a Huckleberry Finn-esque journey across America in search of home.
Las acacias Las acacias
Road movie 2011 83 mins Director: Pablo Giorgelli
Pablo Giorgelli's debut is a slow, touching Argentinian road-movie about a quiet trucker warming to a woman and child he reluctantly gives a lift to
Sightseers Sightseers
Comedy 2012 88 mins Director: Ben Wheatley
Young lovers Chris and Tina turn their first holiday together into a rural killing spree in Ben Wheatley's priceless black comedy.
North of Vortex North of Vortex
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1992 55 mins Director: Constantine Giannaris
A gay poet, a bisexual sailor and a straight waitress embark on a trip through an American desert landscape in this languid, woozy road movie.
Seven Green Bottles Seven Green Bottles
Documentary 1975 34 mins Director: Eric Marquis
Warning film about seven young delinquents, played by non-professional actors, who commit a series of offences, increasing in severity.
London in the Raw London in the Raw
Documentary 1964 47 mins Director: Arnold Louis Miller
Low-budget movie mogul Arnold Louis Miller concocted this exploitation-style documentary which peers behind the grimy net curtains of British life.
Apocalypse Now Apocalypse Now
War 1979 141 mins Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Transplanting Joseph Conrad’s colonial-era novel Heart of Darkness to Vietnam, Coppola created a mesmerising fantasia on the spectacle of war.
You Were Never Really Here You Were Never Really Here
Thriller 2017 90 mins Director: Lynne Ramsay
Lynne Ramsay journeys with Joaquin Phoenix into the mind of an ex-soldier gun-for-hire whose own demons are as brutal as the actions of his adversaries.
The Bookshop The Bookshop
Drama 2017 113 mins Director: Isabel Coixet
Words run riot when a free-spirited bookseller (Emily Mortimer) introduces a sleepy town to a host of provocative literature
Yardie Yardie
Crime 2018 102 mins Director: Idris Elba
In his thrilling directorial debut, Idris Elba brings to life Victor Headley’s cult crime novel.
Control Control
Biopic 2007 122 mins Director: Anton Corbijn
The life story of Ian Curtis, the tortured singer of Joy Division who suffered epilepsy and crippling self-doubt, filmed in stunning monochrome.
Sometimes Always Never Sometimes Always Never
Comedy 2019 91 mins Director: Carl Hunter
Bill Nighy, Sam Riley and Alice Lowe star in this stylish and heartfelt comedy-drama about a Scrabble-obsessed tailor searching for a lost son.
Brighton Rock Brighton Rock
Crime 2011 111 mins Director: Rowan Joffe
Rowan Joffe's adaptation of Graham Greene’s famous novel brings the doomed love story between Pinkie Brown (Sam Riley) and Rose (Andrea Riseborough) back to the screen with grit and panache.
Linha De Passe Linha De Passe
Drama 2008 109 mins Director: Daniela Thomas and Walter Salles
In São Paulo, four half-brothers seek to follow their dreams and escape poverty in Walter Salles acclaimed drama.
A New Kind of Wilderness A New Kind of Wilderness
Documentary 2023 84 mins Director: Silje Evensmo Jacobsen
A tragedy shatters the idyllic world of a family living off-grid in the Norwegian wilderness.
Riefenstahl Riefenstahl
Documentary 2024 115 mins Director: Andreas Veiel
Captivating insight into the controversial filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, who became world-famous for her Nazi propaganda.
Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story
Documentary 2025 100 mins Director: Sinéad O'Shea
A candid portrait of a literary sensation that’s as enchanting as O’Brien’s wonderful novels.
The Penguin Lessons The Penguin Lessons
Drama 2025 112 mins Director: Peter Cattaneo
Steve Coogan is superb as a disillusioned teacher whose life is turned upside-down when he rescues a penguin in turbulent 1970s Argentina.
Cloud Cloud
Drama 2024 124 mins Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
An online scam leads to deadly consequences in Kurosawa Kiyoshi’s chilling tech thriller.
La Cocina La Cocina
Drama 2024 139 mins Director: Alonso Ruizpalacios
Tensions rise in a frenzied New York diner, in this loose reworking of Arnold Wesker’s 1957 play.