SXSW Review Hood to Coast

Director: Christoph Baaden & Marcie Hume (Co-Director) World Premiere Spotlight Premieres 105 minutes

Complete Coverage of SXSW 2010

January 11, 2011 - Hood to Coast at the Keller Auditorium in Portland. Click here to read my new, full review of the film.

Synopsis HOOD TO COAST follows four unlikely teams on their epic journey to conquer the world's largest relay race. Each year, 1000 teams (12,000 runners) cover 197 grueling miles as a relay team, putting themselves through an arduous physical journey that as an individual would be impossible. Some run to test their personal limits, some to overcome personal obstacles, and others leap in blindly looking for a way to invigorate a complacent life. As we follow our four teams, we realize that winning isn't everything in a documentary that takes a celebratory look at personal motivation and attempting the extraordinary.

Director Bio Christoph Baaden was born in Germany, and worked in Berlin as a TV Producer until 1999 when he moved to the US to study Film and Television. After winning an Emmy for his master thesis he began his career in LA in editing. He ran the HTC race for the first time in 2007. When he finished, he vowed to shoot his first feature documentary about the event. He is thrilled to have his film debut at SXSW.

WHO'S IT FOR? Documentary fans should flock to this if you want to feel connected and a part of the story.

OVERALL

You don't need to be a runner to fall in love with this cross country trip. We have a winner of SXSW. Huge fan. I moved to Portland almost two years ago. I’ve fallen in love with the weather (compared to Chicago), the hikes, the beer, and the food. This documentary is just another reason to love Oregon. I need to be a part of this race, though I’m leaning toward “team driver.” I met Rachel after the flick. She’s on the Laika team and pretty much the comedic lead, and just as amusing in real-life. I teared up quite a bit during this film with the story of a family running for a son who had recently died (R. Bowe). I could easily see this playing for the next decade at Bagdad Theater or Hollywood Theatre. Also, the documentary makes Oregon look visually stunning, which it is, but it’s good they didn’t mess this up.

FINAL SCORE: 9/10