presents
Burning Rubber, Crossing Borders
Vehicular Mayhem and Global Action Cinema
Burning Rubber, Crossing Borders
Car races and chases have been a key feature of action cinema since the silent era. From The Crowd Roars (1932) to Bullitt (1968), to the present day with franchises like Fast & Furious, audiences have long been drawn to scenes of vehicular mayhem.
In the 21st century, films such as Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) have helped to legitimise the creative accomplishment of car chase choreography, while the self-reflexive edge of recent releases like The Fall Guy (2024) has also brought attention to the technical wizardry of this subgenre. What remains consistent across all these films is the thrill of watching drivers push their vehicles (and their bodies) to the limits, from careering round tight corners to carrying out deadly cannon rolls. This season will explore the role of car races, chases and stunts within global action cinema. Starting with the B-movies of the 1960s and 70s, before shifting to the CGI-enhanced blockbusters of the 21st century, Burning Rubber will be a thrilling insight into car-based action and its heroes & sheroes.
