The New River Valley Bicycle Association is hosting a one-time screening of the film “Bikes of Wrath” at 6:30 on Thursday January 24, at Regal Cinemas in Christiansburg.
Five Australian friends bike from Oklahoma to California following J. Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath” documenting the profound, grueling experience.
The documentary follows five Australian friends as they attempt to ride from Oklahoma to California – 1600 miles in 29 days in honor of the westward migration undertaken in John Steinbeck’s ‘The Grapes of Wrath’s” by the impoverished, but resolute Joad family as they fled the environmental and economic disasters of the Depression and the Dustbowl.
On a $430 budget, comparable to that of the Joad family’s, the bikers documented the 2015 journey themselves, hauling camera equipment, solar panels and guitars as they struggle through magnificent landscape, hunger, tractor-trailers, broken bones and weary bottoms, encouraged (mostly) by people along the way and Steinbeck’s words. The documentary preview opens with the line, “When they’re all workin’ together…one fella kind of harnessed to the whole shebang, that’s holy.”
Gatherings like this movie reflect the growth of the region’s biking community raising both awareness and funds. The TransAmerica Bicycle Trail wends through Radford drawing bikers each summer. In Blacksburg recently, University clubs, middle- and high-school mountain biking teams, women’s cycling groups and bike shops have been moving forward the building of a mountain biking skills park on the south flank of Brush Mountain that could make the town a bike culture destination.
“Many of you have been to these Demand Film showings before and already know that they’re a lot of fun,” Jen Million, communications person for the NRVBA wrote in an announcement of the event.
Unlike a traditional movie showing, Demand Film screenings require that at least 50 tickets be reserved in order for the screening to occur. If the screening does not occur, you will not be charged for tickets purchased.
The film is open to everyone and Million feels it’s fun to be able to see something “a bit more niche on the big screen” and excited as a cyclist and a Steinbeck fan.
“It won the Banff Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award in 2018, which is a huge honor!” she said.
NRVBA doesn’t receive a portion of the proceeds from Demand Film events.
“It’s more of a way for the NRVBA to remain active and socialize with one another during the winter months when there are less cycling events planned. In the past we’ve screened both MAMIL (“Middle-Aged Man in Lycra”) and Le Ride with great turn-outs.”
“Please spread the word to get us to 50 tickets. I’m really excited about this movie!” Million wrote.
To reserve your tickets, please visit the Demand Film Event Page here:
https://tickets.demand.film/event/6781
To see a trailer for the movie visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJm6-5namR0
