Road movie

A road movie is a film genre in which the main characters leave home to travel from place to place, typically altering the perspective from their everyday lives.

History

The genre has its roots in spoken and written tales of epic journeys, such as the Odyssey and the Aeneid. The road film is a standard plot employed by screenwriters. It is a type of bildungsroman, a story in which the hero changes, grows or improves over the course of the story.

The on-the-road plot was used at the birth of American cinema but blossomed in the years after World War II, reflecting a boom in automobile production and the growth of youth culture. Even so, awareness of the "road picture" as a genre came only in the 1960s with Bonnie and Clyde and Easy Rider.

Movies of this genre

Road Movies (Adams)

Road Movies is a 1995 composition for piano and violin by American minimalist composer John Adams. The piece was commissioned by the McKim Fund of the Library of Congress.

The work is in three movements:

Road Movies (album)

Road Movies is the third and final album by the American group Land. Road Movies was recorded between June, 1998 & February, 1999 at Jack Straw Productions in Seattle and was released on February 13, 2001 on the First World Music label. It was named one of the Top Ten releases of 2001 by Pulse! (Instrumental/Ambient) and the Seattle Weekly (Jazz).

By the time the recording of Road Movies began in 1998, Land had gone through a number of personnel changes and had developed a much harder edged sound. Guitarist Dennis Rea, interviewed at the time, is quoted: "The current lineup is more of a 'rock' band than earlier editions, and is much more explosive and in-your-face. Our connection with ambient music is pretty tenuous at this point." Amazon.com's editorial review describes the album: "Road Movies is a collection of nine compositions primarily recorded live in the studio. It is the first release featuring the powerful rhythm section of Bill Rieflin and Fred Chalenor who lend a more propulsive, focused, and dynamic element to the group. Hence, Road Movies is sometimes intense, other times playful, often beautiful, and always a fascinating listening experience."