Radio On

This 1979 British drama certainly boasts a grand pedigree: it's directed by Time Out film critic Christopher Petit, co-produced by Wim Wenders, filmed by Martin Schäfer (Wenders' best-known cinematographer), features songs by David Bowie and Devo, and presents Sting in his film acting debut (the film was shot before Quadrophenia, but released after). Despite the talent involved, however, Radio On is more art house curio than lost classic. The loose storyline basically follows a man on a road trip from London to Bristol to investigate his brother's suicide, marking the random encounters he has with odd strangers (Sting turns up as a garage attendant) along the way. Ultimately, very little is resolved, but Petit is clearly less interested in narrative than in creating a cinematic commentary about a society lost in a state of inertia and disconnection. Shot in stark black-and-white, the film is visually stunning, but ultimately feels more artsy than artistic, chronicling a journey to nowhere. DVD extras include the 1998 featurette “Radio On Remix,” which finds Petit revisiting the film's locations, and a booklet. Not recommended. (P. Hall)