For teenage Nola (Sabrina Carpenter), home is the open road. Her self-reliant father (Steven Ogg) is her anchor in a life of transience. The pair crisscross the United States in a lovingly refurbished RV, relishing their independence and making ends meet by doing odd jobs. A shocking rupture, though, casts Nola out on her own. She makes her way to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in search of a mother she never knew. When her motorhome unexpectedly breaks down, she forges a bond with an auto body shop owner (Danny Trejo), and senses the possibility of mooring her ship in this storm.
Pam says:
Writer and director Ani Simon-Kennedy creates a quiet yet powerful film depicting Nora who must grow up more quickly than anticipated. Initially, it’s a road trip film, but quickly it becomes much more than that as we dig beneath the surface and discover keen insights about “safety nets” as our healthcare, housing, and educational systems fail us. With sweeping cinematography and tight shots that capture life on the road, Carpenter carries the film supported by Trejo, Ogg, Rusty Schwimmer, and Jashaun St. John. There’s an incredible authenticity and intimacy conveyed within this film as Carpenter’s “Nora” looks for answers and relies on her unique upbringing. It’s rare to find a film that creates such depth, but “The Short History of the Long Road” does this with ease.
Watch for an upcoming interview with Simon-Kennedy in http://www.ff2media.com
