Filmmakers often draw their inspiration and ideas from where their movies are set. For Hannah Fidell, it’s the American Southwest. Her previous films have been more serious in tone but in her latest, “The Long Dumb Road,” Fidell chose to focus on the fun and lightness of the setting. “I’ve shot all of the movies I’ve made in the southwest. There’s just something really iconic about it. That’s what we think about when we think about the ‘great American road trip.’” Check out the official synopsis below:
When college-bound teenager Nat offers itinerant 30-something mechanic Richard) a ride during a stop-over in small-town Texas, neither one realizes the indelible impact each traveler will have on his respective journey. Nat, an aspiring photographer, is heading towards a bright future in art school in Los Angeles and wants to find the real America en route to new beginnings out West; Richard, a lovably unkempt motormouth, is simply looking for connection in the moment — and maybe a beer or ten — while he grapples with indecision, past mistakes and dead-ends. As they travel through the American Southwest, taking in picturesque towns and crossing paths with an assortment of old flames, fellow travelers, kooky cons, and Good Samaritans, both passengers come alive through the myriad possibilities of the open road. Finding connection, comfort and chaos in their shared journey, this improbable and unforgettable screen duo forges an epic bond few will forget.
The film stars Tony Revolori, Jason Mantzoukas, Taissa Farmiga, Grace Gummer, Casey Wilson, and Ron Livingston. And just like her other work, Fidell serves as both writer and director for “The Long Dumb Road.” The inspiration for the “classic tale” actually is based on a wild real-life tale from “Moonlight” editor Nat Sanders who apparently just “picked up a homeless guy in Austin on his way to Los Angeles.”
Look out for “The Long Dumb Road” in limited theaters on November 9. Here’s the first trailer:
