TRAVERSE Issue 19 - August 2020 | Page 143

MOVIE REVIEWS The Air Above Shawn Edmondson 2013 105 Minutes Seven riders, from the USA and Britain, take on the world’s highest motorable roads aboard Royal Enfield’s. It’s a ride anyone can do through numerous tour companies yet what Shawn Edmondson has produced with The Air Above is a film of the highest quality despite limited equipment. The Air Above follows the seven riders through their tour of the Himalayas and the Ladakh region, unlike most tours this is a cultural experience as Edmondson explore the communities, religions, and the people. The cinematography is well thought out and shot, at times it seems it’s all by GoPro, yet it works, and it works well. The editing is smooth and flowing, interspersing POV riding shots with that of the locations. It keeps the viewer engaged. The story telling is exceptional; well told and informative. It’s laced with lengthy monologues from locals and this works extremely well, a firsthand view of the local situation and lifestyle. The Air Above has the feel of a film made by a professional production company, it lacks self-indulgency and through it the viewer is rewarded with great riding, informative storytelling, and beautiful imagery. The Air Above is certainly worth watching and can be found on Vimeo and YouTube. Up And Down Central Asia Visual Moto Travel 2018 48 Minutes Michal Prskavec has created a travel documentary that could rival any of the studios. Up And Down Central Asia is beautifully crafted with photography that evokes a sense of wonderment of wanting to be in the ‘Stans’. Originally produced in Czech, Up And Down Central Asia has been edited and had narration completed in English, this could be the only downside of the production, the accent and narration are a little distracting, it’s easy to forget this as you enjoy a ride through the lands of central Asia. Prskavec encounters many people along the way and it’s this interaction that makes the film; each individual personality is captured beautifully. Up And Down Central Asia is an easy watch and well worth the 48 minutes, you’ll be stunned by the imagery and enthralled by the story. Beautifully shot, perfect editing, makes Up And Down Central Asia a must watch. Up And Down Central Asia is available on YouTube. TRAVERSE 143