Set in the badlands of former Yugoslavia (and beginning with a ridiculously abortive quasi-Mexican standoff), Koljevic’s shambling narrative is breathless from the get-go. After stealing the titular 18-wheeler, a colour-blind Croatian thief and a flame-haired pregnant rocker chick meet, make a deal, pack up, and join forces on their journey towards the Italian border. They are polar opposites: she likes to smoke pot and badmouth the locals, he is a hippy who thinks love is a miracle. Throw in some great music and all is set up for a perfect road movie.
The direction is effortlessly fluid and two ultra-game performances from the leads are ably supported by a cast of weird and wonderful incidental characters, particularly outstanding are a weapons-expert priest and a motormouth mercenary.
In a post-credits coda, the director dedicates his film ‘To those who see differently’, and that is I believe the main message of this film. Koljevic takes a simple story and presents it in a beautifully original way. Besides being a well-established writer, Koljevic’s directorial debut delivers a truly great feel-good road-movie. AK
