2023 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
2015–Fresno, California. Here lives a community of motels where crime is simply a way of life. Prostitution, drugs, rape, and worse occur almost daily in the handful of motels that make up Motel Drive, and, yet, there are still families here trying to raise their children. The Shaw Family is one of those families, and Justin Shaw is just a young boy trying to find his way in the world. His parents are addicts, he lives in filth, and his dream of becoming a professional football player is beginning to dwindle. This documentary tells the story of the past seven years for Justin and his family.
Justin is the heart and soul of Motel Drive, and it’s ultimately his story that appeals to viewers. He’s an honest young man that, despite everything happening around him, appears to have a good head on his shoulders. He has dreams, and he seems to know what needs to be done in order for him to achieve those dreams. Seeing him grow up before our eyes, in the matter of an hour, invites us into his world, and allows us to better appreciate the things being said in Motel Drive.
There’s no doubt that these filmmakers knew that they were going to ruffle some feathers with the release of Motel Drive–and they knew that they had to do something to encourage viewers to follow along throughout the course of the film. Again, that thing is Justin. We don’t just hear what Justin has to say after he’s grown up, we hear from him every step of the way. Viewers almost feel like they are part of his journey through childhood into adulthood–and that gives us something to root for. There’s something very honest and genuine about Justin–and the filmmakers showcase this reality throughout the course of Motel Drive.
Capturing this harsh reality must have been anything but easy–but to be able to accomplish this feat for nearly seven years is just unthinkable. Every once in a while it’s obvious how much time, effort, and patience it takes to create a film. Motel Drive is one of those films. Without patience there is no way that the film comes to life. Dealing with these harsh conditions would have only made the process even more difficult–and yet this team prevails.
I understand the purpose of Motel Drive, but what it ultimately does is give the drug addicts and child molestors present in the film a platform to plead their cases, to make others feel bad for them–and I’m not here for that. I don’t enjoy or appreciate films that allow people to make excuses or even validate things that are unacceptable. While I don’t believe that it’s the intention of Writer-Director Brendan Geraghty to provide this opportunity, it’s simply the nature of the beast–and there’s not much he can do to deter individuals from telling the world how they feel.
Motel Drive has the potential to do two things: piss people off or allow them to better appreciate the struggles of the families living in Fresno, California. In my case I get a little bit of both–but I think that balance allows me to better appreciate the film as a whole. I believe that everything that Geraghty would have wanted for his film comes to be, and there’s no doubt in my mind that Motel Drive will have continued success going forward.
Written & Directed by Brendan Geraghty.
Starring Justin Shaw, DeAndra Brewer, Jason Shaw, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
Comments