Coming to NYC theatres and to VOD today, Friday, October 9: A FASTER HORSE
David Gelb’s tribute to the Ford Mustang debuted at Tribeca this Spring. After a special one-night-only theatrical bow last night, it now comes to NYC theatres and to VOD via Vimeo on Demand.
Financed by the automaker, Gelb’s film steers clear of any real criticism or indepth analysis of the auto industry or of American manufacturing, though it does briefly acknowledge the impact of the recession and the bankruptcy of Detroit. Instead, the focus is split between a retelling of the Mustang’s origin and how it contributed to Ford’s fortunes, and the pressures on the present-day stewards to redesign the popular car model for 2015. The worshipful tone is set from the very beginning, as the director is told that he – and, by extension, the viewer – should feel honored to be granted access to the secretive inner sanctum of the Mustang redesign process. Perhaps car fanatics might share this sentiment, but for audience members indifferent to the brand, this aspect of the film is only of occasionally mild interest, and that’s really only because the chief engineer, Dave Pericak, seems like a genuine, nice enough guy. Far more appealing is the broader history offered of the brand, detailing how Lee Iacocca developed the Ford in secret, to avoid the shadow cast by the disastrous response to the infamous Edsel.
what (not) to doc 