(spoiler free)
Women Behind the Wheel is the story of Catherine Haigh and Hannah Congdon, two best friends who have set themselves the challenge of driving across Central Asia and uncovering the stories of the women who live there. Their journey along the (in part) treacherous Pamir Highway, takes them through Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan where they meet an an array of women and hear about their lives. And now with this documentary, they’re sharing these encounters with he world.
It’s clear that both Cat and Hannah are passionate about women, feminism and learning about female stories beyond their own. You would have to be to undertake such a mission as they do here. However, the documentary struggles to acutely communicate their specific motivations behind both their road trip, and the film itself. Of course it’s an easy cause to get behind, but Women Behind the Wheel almost accelerates too quickly, without really explaining to viewers what’s truly driving Cat and Hannah to venture to the other side of the world to take on this commendable challenge. A more detailed look at the story behind what has really seen these two women arrive behind the titular wheel, would have been most welcome.
However, as a result of this somewhat premature opening, the film ultimately gets audiences to the real heart of the film in a swift manner. It isn’t long before viewers are introduced to the first of many women that Cat and Hannah will meet along the way, and it’s them, the women behind the wheel, not of the car, but of progression and revolution within their own circles and societies that become the film’s most compelling feature. Among them are students, guides, athletes and animal keepers and each are given time to tell their stories in their own words. They candidly share with Cat and Hannah, discussing many different subjects such as education, healthcare and crime. These conversations have real value and the film does well to capture them in a engaging and natural way.
Of course in-between these often moving and empowering encounters there are many eventful occurrences on the road as Cat and Hannah navigate the Pamir Highway. These moments convey the scale of their journey impressively and the challenges they have to face to complete it. As you might expect, as is the case with any road trip there are the inevitable moments when they become lost –understandable, considering the terrain. And in some ways this can be true of the film too. It’s never so lost that it’s aimless, but it lacks a certain direction in its forward momentum, feeling more episodic rather than telling one overarching narrative.
Nonetheless, the physically journey behind Women Behind the Wheel is undeniably impressive. But whilst the film itself maybe doesn’t quite match the scale of this admirable adventure in what it says, what’s most notable is Cat and Hannah’s ability to focus on the subjects of their documentary: the women carrying out these small everyday acts of revolution. Subsequently, Women Behind the Wheel reminds us of the power of speaking less, and listening more.
Written by Hamish Calvert
★★★
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