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| Goin' Down the Road |
Goin' Down the Road Movie
Brief Movie Story of Goin’ Down the Road
Overview
“Goin’ Down the Road” is a 1970 Canadian drama film directed by Donald Shebib. The film follows two young men, Pete and Joey, who leave their home in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, in search of better opportunities in Toronto. The narrative explores themes of hope, disillusionment, and the harsh realities of urban life.
Plot Summary
The story begins with Pete (played by Doug McGrath) and Joey (played by Paul Bradley) embarking on a road trip to Toronto in their 1960 Chevrolet Impala. They are motivated by the promise of jobs and excitement that the big city offers, as they feel trapped by the limited opportunities available in their rural hometown.
Upon arriving in Toronto, they quickly discover that life is not as glamorous as they had imagined. Their initial hopes are dashed when they find it difficult to connect with their relatives who avoid them due to what they perceive as uncouth behavior. The duo manages to secure jobs at a local ginger-ale bottling plant but soon realizes that the pay is only marginally better than what they could have earned back home.
As they settle into city life, Pete and Joey indulge in a lifestyle filled with drinking and casual relationships while decorating their small apartment with magazine cutouts. Joey becomes romantically involved with Betty (Jayne Eastwood), who eventually becomes pregnant. This leads Joey to propose marriage, and he adopts a credit-driven lifestyle that further complicates their financial situation.
Disaster strikes when both men lose their jobs at the bottling plant at summer’s end. Struggling to make ends meet, they take on lower-paying jobs washing cars and resetting bowling pins. Tensions rise within their cramped living situation as financial pressures mount, especially with Betty’s impending motherhood.
In desperation, Pete and Joey resort to stealing food from a supermarket, which results in an altercation with a clerk. When they return home after this incident, they find that Betty has left them due to the chaos surrounding them and that they’ve been evicted from their apartment.
Ultimately broke and homeless, Pete convinces Joey to abandon Betty and their unborn child so they can continue seeking fortune elsewhere. The film concludes with them driving westward once again in search of greener pastures, mirroring how it began.
Conclusion
“Goin’ Down the Road” is celebrated for its realistic portrayal of working-class struggles and has been recognized as one of Canada’s most influential films. It captures the essence of youthful ambition clashing with harsh realities while providing an unflinching look at life’s challenges.
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