Where the Road Runs Out

George Mensah (Isaach De Bankolé) is a man at a crossroads. He's a well-known academic and lecturer, but something is missing. He's restless and struggling to find his way.

Things don't improve for him when he's informed that one of his friends, and fellow academic in Equatorial Guinea whom he helps financially, has died. He and his friend Martin (Stelio Savante) hit the town, spend the night drinking and talking about their lives. During their conversation, George makes up his mind to head to Equatorial Guinea and check out the research station where his friend was working at as well as the local orphanage that he has helped support as well.

Upon his arrival, George doesn't find the workable field station he expected but a ramshackle shack with slat boards for walls and holes in the roof. He quickly gets to fixing the station up and encounters a good-natured, spirited young boy named Jimi (Sizo Motsoko). From there, "Where the Road Runs Out" incorporates elements of romance (there's great chemistry between Bankolé and Juliet Landau as Corina, Jimi's teacher and the director of the local orphanage), introspection (as George reevaluates his place in the world) and, in a roundabout way, mystery as to what exactly happened to the money George sent to his friend.

"Where the Road Runs Out" is a solid film with good performances from Bankolé and Motsoko and the supporting cast. The message of transformation and returning to one's roots to find their core self will resonate with many of the audience.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRy6-sO_-4s&w=514&h=315]