"Raw, thought provoking, funny. Roadz of Life explores the more difficult sides of life."
A traumatic injury and disability, the filmmaker is also the subject, trying to find his way out of a coma like state. Searching for answers, he begins to interview strangers also experiencing extreme life circumstances.
Janelle Houston
Herself
Michael Houston
Himself
A traumatic injury and disability, the filmmaker is also the subject, trying to find his way out of a coma like state. Searching for answers, he begins to interview strangers also experiencing extreme life circumstances.
In 2012 the subject developed a neurological movement disorder and acquired brain injury. The woman he was renting a room from suddenly became his 24hr care giver, within weeks pregnant and soon married. After facing homelessness and the birth of their son, through a video camera, he begins to analyze the tragic events. Journaling the recovery from a severe disability, introspectively, the filmmaker is also the subject. Finding his way out of a coma like state through the lens of a camera. It shows the extreme rehabilitation process of a man exploring his loss of identity and trauma. In a world that now feels foreign to him, confused and seeking deeper meaning from life. He reaches out and interviews strangers also experiencing extreme social circumstances including drug addiction, physical disabilities, kidney failure, mental health issues, miscarriage and homelessness. He tackles topics like grief, trauma, relationships, suicide, conflict, forgiveness and humanity. Exposing peoples lack of transparency, communication and connection within the modern era. The film storyboard and soundtrack is jagged and bombarding like a jigsaw puzzle, leaving questions unanswered. It portrays the disconcerting nightmare and dreamlike state the subject is experiencing, filtered with cinematic beach life, his child, wife, dog and a warped sense of humor. Extreme emotions are placed on the viewer that draws toward deeper questions of what it is to be human, diving deep into his own childhood memories and history, finalizing with a deeper appreciation of the human condition, life, nature and relationships that relate to a very broad audience. Medically his symptoms presented like a severe stroke or end stages Parkinson's Disease, losing basic cognitive awareness to shower himself, eat food, drive a car, speak, no comprehension of math, reading, writing, the list was endless. Also presenting with constant physical involuntary movements to all areas of his body including his limbs, fingers, torso, lungs, throat, eyes and mouth. He and his wife received no proper support or treatment due to the rarity of the condition. It's been a 12 year journey. During this process, living next to the beach on a disability pension, he created a full length documentary exploring his life experiences, emotions and history. Interviewing others experiencing extreme life circumstances and trauma. He did this with no external film crew or previous film experience. All areas of the soundtrack including songs are also performed and written by the film maker. How the film was created is just as bizarre and unique as the film itself, a blurred line. Accidental film maker, snowballing over many years. The footage is harsh, confronting, genuine, and tragically beautiful. It forces you to take notice. A story that can touch the human heart, inspire, educate and help others.
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