The Drivetime
Encyclopedia
The Drivetime is a 1995 science fiction
film directed, written and produced by the Finnish
-born filmmaker Antero Alli
.
, of 1999, to locate video footage of a riot that took place prior to the earthquake. He arrives in a society where telecommunications technology has replaced human interactions, and where police operations are presented as television entertainment. He also discovers the government is putting forth footage of non-existent riots as a means of establishing law and order.
, author of the syndicated newspaper column Real Astrology, wrote the text for the film’s psychedelic infomercials, while political writer Peter Lamborn Wilson
, writing under the nom de plume Hakim Bey, also contributed to the screenplay.
Alli shot The Drivetime in five different video formats – BETA SP, HI-8, VHS, C-VHS, SVHS – and in Super 8 film. The riot footage was culled from the September 10, 1994, riots in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood that protested allegations of local police brutality.
The Drivetime received mixed reviews. Wired Magazine praised it as “one of the most chilling yet innovative cinematic essays on the flaws of today's technology-obsessed society” while Steven Seid of the Pacific Film Archive praised the film’s “provocative visuals” and noted it was best when plying its 'televisionary' speculations about a spiritual resurgence that will overwhelm virtuality."
However, Robert Firsching, writing for the Amazing World of Cult Movies, dismissed The Drivetime as a “silly mess” and called Alli “a ninny.” Alli, in an interview published by Film Threat
, took umbrage with Firsching’s comments by stating:
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
film directed, written and produced by the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
-born filmmaker Antero Alli
Antero Alli
Antero Alli was born 11 November 1952, in Finland. Alli currently resides in Berkeley, California, where he conducts workshops and stages theatrical productions, some of which have been released as films...
.
Plot
The film opens in the year 2023 in the Nostradamus Islands. A librarian named Flux recalls a series of earthquakes that destroyed the continental United States. A totalitarian government took control of the United States following the disaster, but video footage from the pre-earthquake world was lost. Flux is sent by the government back in time to Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, of 1999, to locate video footage of a riot that took place prior to the earthquake. He arrives in a society where telecommunications technology has replaced human interactions, and where police operations are presented as television entertainment. He also discovers the government is putting forth footage of non-existent riots as a means of establishing law and order.
Production
The Drivetime was produced on a budget of US$5,000 (currently $). Rob BrezsnyRob Brezsny
Rob Brezsny is an American astrologer, writer, poet, and musician. His weekly horoscope column Free Will Astrology , has been published for more than 28 years, runs in 120 periodicals, and can be subscribed to for free via email.- Career :Brezsny is the first well-known horoscope columnist...
, author of the syndicated newspaper column Real Astrology, wrote the text for the film’s psychedelic infomercials, while political writer Peter Lamborn Wilson
Peter Lamborn Wilson
Peter Lamborn Wilson , is an American political writer, essayist, and poet, known for first proposing the concept of the Temporary Autonomous Zone , based, in part, on a historical review of pirate utopias...
, writing under the nom de plume Hakim Bey, also contributed to the screenplay.
Alli shot The Drivetime in five different video formats – BETA SP, HI-8, VHS, C-VHS, SVHS – and in Super 8 film. The riot footage was culled from the September 10, 1994, riots in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood that protested allegations of local police brutality.
Release
The Drivetime was first screened at the Velvet Elvis Arts Theater in Seattle in August 1995. The film had a limited theatrical release and was later distributed on DVD.The Drivetime received mixed reviews. Wired Magazine praised it as “one of the most chilling yet innovative cinematic essays on the flaws of today's technology-obsessed society” while Steven Seid of the Pacific Film Archive praised the film’s “provocative visuals” and noted it was best when plying its 'televisionary' speculations about a spiritual resurgence that will overwhelm virtuality."
However, Robert Firsching, writing for the Amazing World of Cult Movies, dismissed The Drivetime as a “silly mess” and called Alli “a ninny.” Alli, in an interview published by Film Threat
Film Threat
Film Threat is a former print magazine and, now, webzine which focuses primarily on independent film, although it also reviews DVDs of mainstream films and Hollywood movies in theaters. It first appeared as a photocopied zine in 1985, created by Wayne State University students Chris Gore and André...
, took umbrage with Firsching’s comments by stating:
“Though I often remind myself that any review is only one person's opinion, harsh reviews always hurt. What are you going to do? Stop reading all your reviews? That's just more self-stabbing victim bullshit. Why not pick up some objectivity and identify the bias of the reviewer just to see where they are coming from? Just for fun. When I do this, it's understandable why The Amazing World of Cult Movies calls me a ‘ninny’ and my movie a ‘silly mess.’ That's very funny. If I were as cynical and jaded as them, I'd probably say the same thing.”