Radio On – 1979 | 104 mins | Drama | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Bleak and atmospheric debut feature written and directed by former film critic Chris Petit. This eerie road movie shot in haunting black-and-white and influenced by German director Wim Wenders casts a desolate eye over the austere featureless British countryside whilst meeting with stifled apathy; all a metaphor for the state of the British film industry. There’s an extraordinary New Wave soundtrack that includes David Bowie, Kraftwerk and Wreckless Eric.

Radio disc-jockey Robert (David Beames) drives from London to Bristol in his battered old Rover to investigate his brother’s suicide. It’s the late 70s; the radio news is dominated by The Troubles in Ireland and terrorist activities in Europe, and during his journey the dispassionate DJ makes a number of estranged acquaintances with similarly lost souls; bitter Scottish squaddie (Andrew Byatt), AWOL from Northern Ireland; garage attendant (Sting), who shares a reverie about Eddie Cochran; his brother’s frosty girlfriend (Sandy Ratcliff) and becomes embroiled with German Ingrid (Lisa Kreuzer), scouring the southwest for her daughter. Robert eventually returns to his lone trek and drives around aimlessly before reaching the edge of a quarry edge, and with his questions still unanswered, he is forced to move on.