Radio On (1980)

Radio On is a film that I had wanted to watch ever first reading a review of it. I seem to remember the review being fairly positive, but that two things in particular intrigued me. Firstly it was described as a British Road Movie... And whilst the American road movie has a great tradition, I don't think I can think of a single other British road movie, possibly due to the fact that in Britain you could drive the entire length of the country in a day, whereas other countries you only get from one city to the next. Secondly I was intrigued by the soundtrack, which was described as an amazing New Wave Soundtrack, promising songs from the likes of Bowie, Devo, Kraftwerk and many other great bands. I was hooked. However, for years the film always remained far too expensive for me to take a punt on it. However, one day I found it as a more than reasonable price and snapped it up. I only got round to watching it the other day though.

There isn't much of a story to speak of, the driving motivation of the road trip is our protagonist Robert's brother dies, and he travels across the country to try and find out what happened to him, there's also a side plot involving a German lady he meets who is trying to find her husband who has run off with their daughter, but like I say, neither story is particularly important in the grand scheme of the film. The real purpose for the film, or at least the way I read it, was a film that addressed where we were as a nation when the film was made. Whilst driving through the countryside, comments are made about the pylons that were springing up in fields, we have shots of characters starring out of separate windows (despite being in the same room) watching as the traffic passes them by on the newly built highway. It's almost as if it's trying to say that although all these technological advancements and modernisation of Britain are supposed to be improving our society, they are in fact adding to a great sense of disillusion with the country and a greater sense of lonliness.

These could just be my own modern interpretations of the film, but in being able to find modern relevant theories surrounding the meaning behind many of the films scenes I realised that the film was still as important a voice about modern society now as it was when it was made. The film certainly feels wistful for a time before... a time when things were better. One of the moments when Robert seems most at ease and happy is when he meets Sting's character (Sting actually putting in a fairly decent performance, and not annoying me like Sting usually does) and the two of them end up singing an Eddie Cochran song together. It's an unusually uplifting moment in this film.

A Word of warning, this film doesn't follow a linear plot, nor is it filled with action, indeed, in the wrong mood I may easily have found this film incredibly dull, as I can find any film that is described as dealing with the existential. However, if you're in the mood for a thoughtful film, that is beautifully shot, as I don't think Britain in the 1970s ever looked this good before, then you can't go too far wrong with Radio On. It's interesting film making, well shot, well acted and will linger with you long after the film ends, just make sure you enter with an open mind and not too looking for spoon feeding cinema.