Off the Road
This Sporting Life
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1h 17m
Directed by José Permar • Documentary • 2020 • 78 minutes
Each year, the slow-paced lifestyle on Mexico’s largest desert in Baja Peninsula is given a turbo boost by the Baja 1000, the largest off-road motorsport race in the world that takes place crossing the Mexican-US border.
In this modern-day western, José Permar tells a unique story about the border, complete with a commissioned soundtrack of epic corridos performed by a trio of colorful musicians.
The documentary follows Rigo, Davis, and Paco, three fans of this mechanical saga. They are looking for an opportunity to be a part of the race and escape the apparent monotony of their small communities. In their journey, the three men will find something more important than the race itself. They will discover their identity, pride, and sense of belonging to their hometowns.
“Mexican filmmaker José Permar takes a shoestring budget and makes an ingenious and cinematic western style documentary set in the bone dry beauty of Mexico’s largest desert region, The Baja. This is a story about a race, a group of musicians and a community clinging to both in order to survive.” – Meredith Taylor, FILMUFORIA
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