roadMichael Hewitt and Dermot Lavery’s emotionally charged documentary Road, is one not too far removed from that of TT3D: Closer to the Edge, which hit our cinema screens back in just 2011. However to cover this territory again is by no means a bad thing, as it makes for such intrinsically absorbing cinema. These racers are courageously dancing with death and this is no fictional account, these are not written characters. It may seem like a movie, or a video game, but Road serves as a painful reminder that this is real life.

In this instance, we’re exploring motorcycle road racing through the Dunlop family, who have dominated the headlines in the sport for the past four decades. The story begins with Joey Dunlop, who rose to prominence in 1970s, going on to achieve much success across an illustrious career in the sport. His younger brother Robert was also unusually gifted, as the pair would often compete against one another to win races such as the TT in the Isle of Man. In the present day, the latter’s two sons William and Michael are also two of the greatest racers in the world.

As a vessel into this volatile world, the Dunlop family are ideal, as they’ve suffered tragedy and yet gained such triumph too, and both elements are covered extensively in this feature, as the viewer goes through the motions along with the talking heads – ranging from the subject’s families, close friends and journalists. Hewitt and Lavery do a fine job from a structural sense too, as while in most documentaries you would favour a chronological approach, in this instance we weave seamlessly between the past and present, painting a poignant picture of the history of the sport through two sets of brothers.

However what TT3D had which sadly Road doesn’t – is the wealth of fascinating figures. In the aforementioned title there was the captivating Guy Martin, a racer who even went on to have his own TV series. That’s not to say the Dunlops don’t come across well – because they do – and it’s by no means a remit that documentary subjects have to be charismatic, but in this instance, we’re missing that one, true larger than life character. What does help bring some identity and personality to the title, however, is Liam Neeson – who dutifully narrates proceedings. It’s a huge coup to have him involved, as his voice is so instantly recognisable and inherently dramatic. He could narrate the opening of a fridge and make it sound painstakingly intense.

Though undoubtedly intriguing, Road does seem to carelessly deviate away from fully getting in to the heads of our subjects. It’s one thing to document their journey and their achievements, but these racers flirt with their own fate on so many occasions, and yet always return to the sport. Why? What pushes them to this limit? We don’t fully get a sense for that at all.

Nonetheless, you don’t need to be a fan of motorcycle racing to get caught up in Road, as a tale of triumph in the face of adversity, and a family dynamic at its core. Though perhaps the making of the feature could’ve waited just that little bit longer – as not even a week before this film gets its theatrical release, Michael Dunlop won the TT race and became the first ever competitor to win the prestigious event for four years in a row, an event that would have actually been rather interesting to see in this very production.

[Rating:3/5]