Writer/Director: Kirill Mikhanovsky
Writer/Producer: Alice Austen
Producers: Val Abel, Wally Hall, Michael Manasseri, George Rush, Sergey Shtern
Co-Producers: Lisa Alfelt, Boris Frumin, Andrew Swant
Synopsis
In this freewheeling comedy, medical transport driver Vic risks his job to shuttle a group of rowdy seniors and a Russian boxer to a funeral, dragging clients like Tracy, a young woman with ALS, along for the ride.
The film screened at Sundance, Cannes, and MoMA, and was distributed by Music Box Films (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Wild Bunch (The Artist, March of the Penguins). It won the 2020 John Cassavetes Spirit Award and ranked #11 on The New York Times’ Best Films of the Year list.
Available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Blu-Ray.
Critical Response
- The New York Times’ Best Films of 2019 List (Manohla Dargis’ #11)
- The Washington Post’s 10 Best Films of 2019 List (Ann Hornaday’s #10)
- Hollywood Reporter’s 10 Best Films of 2019 List (John Frosch’s #2)
- National Board of Review’s Top 10 Indie Films of 2019 List
- The Los Angeles Times’ Oscar Nomination Picks – Best Supporting Actress (Spencer), Best Editing (Mikhanovsky)
- Hollywood Reporter 25 Best Performances of the Year
- 91% Critical Consensus rating on Rotten Tomatoes
- RogerEbert.com’s Best Performances of Sundance 2019
Selected Festivals & Screenings
- Sundance 2019 – Premiere
- Cannes – Directors’ Fortnight
- BAMcinemaFest NY – Centerpiece film
- British Film Institute (BFI), London
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York
- Independent Film Center (IFC), New York
Awards
- Winner, John Cassavetes Independent Spirit Award, 2020
- Winner, Best Film Award – Int’l Film Festival Macau (IFFAM)
- Nominated, Best Male Lead Spirit Award – Chris Galust
- Nominated, Best Supporting Female Spirit Award – Lauren Spencer
- Nominated, Best Editing Spirit Award – Kirill Mikhanovsky
- Nominated, Sundance NEXT Innovator Award, Kirill Mikhanovsky
Reviews
“Critic’s Pick! Hilarious … Delightfully unpredictable.”
– Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
“One of the most revelatory cinematic experiences I’ve had all year … inclusive and vibrant … two breathtaking breakout performances from lead players.”
– The Washington Post
“At once breakneck and tolerant … rousingly Russian and touchingly all-American.”
– Anthony Lane, The New Yorker
“Brilliant, transporting … sees the sunlight beyond the anxiety.”
– Andrew Lapin, NPR
“A boisterous, freewheeling joyride.”
– Variety
“Electric. A fresh, all-American crowd pleaser.”
– RogerEbert.com
“Rough, wild, but deceptively sophisticated … A treasure.”
– Jon Frosch, The Hollywood Reporter
“An unqualified triumph.”
– Cinema Scope
“A brilliant madcap farce.”
– The Los Angeles Times
“Expertly juggles resonant themes and a madcap series of events to produce a chaotic comedy with heart.”
– Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus