Name: Radio On
Director: Chris Petit
Genre: Drama, Music, Mystery
Released: 1979-11-30
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 5.8
Cast: David Beames, Lisa Kreuzer, Sandy Ratcliff, Andrew Byatt, Sue Jones-Davies

A road movie where the journey is static and the soundtrack does all the talking.

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post-punk ennuimotorway hypnosisBritish New Wave

Overview

Drama Music Mystery

A London radio DJ receives news of his brother's suicide and travels west to Bristol to find out more.

Content warning

alienation in modern Britainthe failure of communicationmusic as emotional languageinheritance of silence

Standout Aspects

Direction

Petit's debut: a German road movie accidentally filmed in Slough.

Score

Bowie, Kraftwerk, Devo, Wreckless Eric — the real protagonist here.

Best for:Solo·Streaming

Heads up:Emotional

Director

Chris Petit

ReleasedNov 30, 1979

Runtime1h 44m

StatusReleased

Vibe

Paceslow

Intensitylow

Tonedark

Feelheavy

Top Cast

Lisa Kreuzer

Ingrid

Sandy Ratcliff

Kathy

Sue Jones-Davies

Girl

Sting

Just Like Eddie

Tilly Vosburgh

Kim Taylforth

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

Produced by Wim Wenders, who essentially gifted Petit his leftover 35mm stock and aesthetic. It's basically 'Kings of the Road' if Robby Müller had a really bad cold.

Cultural

Shot during the Winter of Discontent, the film captures Britain literally falling apart — power cuts, strikes, and motorways to nowhere. The Thatcher era hadn't even started yet and everyone already looked exhausted.