Revenge of the Electric Car (Documentary)

Is it a big blockbuster film? Is it a B movie? The name would suggest that. In reality Revenge of the Electric Car is a documentary about the obsession, the passion, and ultimately the need for an electric car in today's environmentally conscious world. 

Focusing on four different electric car manufacturers (GM, Telsa Motors, Nissan, Gregg “Gadget” Abbot), the documentary looks at the different approaches people are taking towards getting a working electric car in the market. It also manages to rope in people like Danny DeVito, Jon Favreau, Anthony Kiedis, and Adrian Grenier in small snippets, which gives the entire issue of moving towards electric cars for a better tomorrow a somewhat celebrity endorsed push. Add to that Tim Robbins narrating the documentary and the electric car already has enough people backing and banking on its success that it is only a matter of time before it becomes the norm on roads.

The wonderful part about Revenge of the Electric Car is that in choosing and eventually following the four car manufactures, it taps into the different mindsets and techniques adopted by each company presenting a varied view to the entire process;

Bob Lutz (General Motors) comes across as the old yet experience horse in the race. GM having been down the path of an electric car with EV1 is initially hesitant to dive again into the market, but eventually public pressure and competitive need leads to the origin of Chevrolet Volt, a hybrid

Elon Musk with his brainchild company Tesla Motors is the Mark Zuckerberg of the electric car industry. Having made his money through PayPal he is all set to produce a fast all-out electric car letting no one, including co-founders (surprisingly very similar to the case of Facebook) in its way, but is he ready for the constant infusion of money required to run a car company, only time will tell.

Reverend Gadget is the more in touch with the common man car enthusiast taking one car at a time converting them into electric cars, including his “masterpiece” an electric Porsche Roadster. While he faces one adversity after another with his shed being burnt by vandals and his second shed being inhabitable, his passion keeps him going towards achieving his lifelong dream of that perfect converted electric car.     

Lastly, Carlos Ghosn from Nissan is the up-to-speed commercial manufacturer who wants to make the electric car available to the mass market and quick before others move into the territory.

Revenge of the Electric Car shows certain camaraderie between the manufacturers in-between all the competition to be out there with the best car. More than that the documentary holds true to its name and looks at how this obsession and need to make the perfect electric car leads almost all the manufacturers to their knees where eventually government grants and IPOs (in case of Tesla) are the only ways of sustaining in the market. It also looks at the mindsets of the old timers from Detroit (GM) and the new hipsters from the Silicon Valley (Tesla).

The entire formulation of the electric car comes a full circle with initially GM launching EV1 followed by pulling it off the roads and now once again, years later, with the electric car craze taking over resulting in the car almost bankrupting organizations in a sort of revenge for not letting it get preference over the years.

Chris Paine’s Revenge of the Electric Car is recommended viewing for all car enthusiasts, environmentalists, or anyone who wants to have a sneak peek into the technology that is being developed and is sure to take over the roads we drive on daily. It’s a documentary that looks at all the different angles of the revolution and doesn’t hide away from the stark realities of the car business which is in the end as much about making a profit and money as it is about helping the environment.  

While the documentary ends on a positive note with support coming to all the manufacturers amongst strong competition from other car makers like Honda and Toyota, Adrian Grenier sums up the common man's thinking and attitude when he says, "I don't want to wait another 60-70 years before we catch up to the reality that is here now, these innovations are here, bring them to me, I want to play."


Revenge of the Electric Car is being released in Cinemas across UK starting 20th July 2012 by Dogwoof.

     

The Electric Experience

Nestled on a small street in the centre of Birmingham is the oldest working cinema in the UK. Not knowing about The Electric, you just might pass it by. Not knowing about The Electric would also be a grave mistake by any film enthusiast.

The Electric is not just the only independent cinema in Birmingham; it also is simply a one of a kind experience. From the moment you walk in to the time you leave, The Electric takes you into an era where multiplexes didn't exist and you get a sense of the old world charm. Over the decades The Electric has had quite a few transformations and name changes, but its new avatar is by far the best in my 20 odd years of knowing of its existence.

The Electric is small. Two cinema screens with a small lobby area housing a bar and the ticket counter. Instantly on my arrival I felt claustrophobic. This I later realized was due to the huge lobbies and multiple ticket counters I had gotten used to at multiplexes. Slowly, but surely this feeling converted into a sort of coziness. There are small nooks and corners with places to sit that give it an almost homey feeling, as if you have just entered your own private home theatre. The staff was genuine and you could actually have a conversation on films with them. There wasn't that distance or hurriedness that one feels at the multi-screen theatres. A sign telling me they sell my favorite magazine, Little White Lies, confirmed that I was at the right place.  

The experience that is The Electric starts from the moment you buy the ticket, or should I say the ticket stub, which is truly a classic touch. The next bit of surprise was when the well stocked bar served me cola in a glass bottle along with a glass full of ice and a slice of lime. There was no plastic in sight and that my friend is underrated sophistication. The seats once again are not the sliding types one finds at the "big" theatres, but they are equally comfortable. You can always opt for the "couches" which take you in the lap of luxury. A SMS service for the privileged few lets you order food/drink without moving an inch.

Now, the tickets are slightly expensive. So, although you pay about a pound more than usual, but then not only are you supporting the local independent cinema, but the atmosphere is by far worth the extra cash. The fact that I saw Senna on my first visit, which is my favorite documentary/film of all time, amplified this experience even more.

I am also impressed with The Electric because it is a theatre that is not afraid to experiment. It recently hosted the Shock and Gore 2011 festival. Such events are an excellent way to bring the community together and simultaneously promote the art of cinema in all its forms.

So, the next time you are in Birmingham, take a slight detour to visit The Electric and definitely take out time to watch a movie for an amazing time.