Red Light Go

Red Light Go
by Ben Barraud; Toby Barraud; Manny Kivowitz

List Price: ~~$24.95~~
Our Price: $22.49
You Save: $2.46 (10%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $10.99 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases

Compare Prices for Red Light Go

Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD Cover Information

Director: Ben Barraud; Toby Barraud; Manny Kivowitz
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 52 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-06-14
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: KSK Studios

Movie Reviews of Red Light Go

Movie Review: Emphasis on lifestyle, not job or racing
Summary: 4 Stars

This DVD was given to me by someone who thought that, after reading my review of the wonderful film, "Breaking Away," I would like "Red Light Go," a documentary on the bicycle messengers of New York City and the "alleycat" races they run. "Red Light Go" turned out to be a documentary on a topic that is of little interest to me, but I will review it and stick to commenting on its quality.

The documentary introduces a set of alleycat racers, and then rotates through interviews with them, as they comment on their lives, how they got into their current lifestyle, what they think of each other, a little about the bicycle messenger job, and a lot about the "alleycat" races. These races are semi-structured, grueling, urban bicycle races, arranged by some of the participants.

As to the quality of the DVD, first of all, the cinematography is great. The viewer feels like he or she is right there with these alleycat racers, during the races, during their "day jobs" as messengers, and during their social gatherings.

Secondly, the title and the cover image give a very accurate impression of what the documentary is about. At first, I was expecting it to be about bicycle messengers in general. Through the different interviews, it becomes clear to me that the "alleycat racers" are a subset of bicycle messengers, who have developed their own subculture or counter-culture. What sets them apart are some of the same factors that set apart the participants in any "extreme" variation of any sport: pushing the limits, taking risks, and enjoying the thrill of the danger involved. Many of them also dress in ways that clearly identify them as extreme, non-conformist, and counter-culturists.

Thirdly, there is a fair amount of profanity mixed into the interviews, as well as quite a few references to substance abuse. One of the "alleycat" races even involves the participants carrying bags of items that look like illegal drugs, adding the possibility that the police might stop them and they would run the risk of having to explain their way out of drug charges. That is just considered as one more obstacle in the race.

Fourthly, this documentary is much more about the alleycat racers than about the alleycat races. The big Halloween race, following a pentagram-in-a-circle-shaped route through rush-hour traffic in New York City, is shown in pretty good detail, although the traffic and the twindling daylight make it hard to follow the action. Otherwise, the documentary is mainly about the racers and their lives.

Fifthly, even at my height of bicycling involvement, I would not have wanted to be involved in these alleycat races, as the documentary makes two things clear: there is little regard for the safety of the pedestrians and automobile drivers; winning the races has as much to do with being loud and pushy at the checkpoints, as it does with being fast. I loved to ride because I loved the speed and the accomplishment involved in going new places and exploring.

If you are looking for a DVD about bicycle racing, check out "Breaking Away." If you want to learn about what it would be like to be a bicycle messenger in a big city, look elsewhere. But, if you want to find out about the counter-culture that exists among the bicycle messengers who are also alleycat racers, "Red Light Go" is exactly what you're looking for. I learned a lot about this group and the counter-culture they have developed, and the documentary is well-done technically.

Write your own review

Summary of Red Light Go

Studio: Repnet Llc Release Date: 01/30/2007

Art House & International DVD Video

DVD Video

Movies most talked about in I Like Bike

Hell on Wheels
VAS; Release date: 2005-11-22; DVD
Best price: $18.71
Price in other shops: ~~$29.95~~

American Flyers
Team Marketing; Release date: 1999-12-21; DVD
Best price: $2.37
Price in other shops: ~~$9.98~~

The Island of Bicycle Dancers : A Novel
by Jiro Adachi
Published: 2004-02-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.61
Price in other shops: ~~$22.95~~

Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance
by Lennard Zinn
Velopress; VeloPress; Published: 2005-04-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.71
Price in other shops: ~~$24.95~~

2 Seconds
Release date: 2000-08-15; DVD
Best price: $15.90
Price in other shops: ~~$24.95~~

The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes(Expanded and Revised 5th Edition)
by Todd Downs
Rodale Books; Published: 2005-03-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.95
Price in other shops: ~~$21.95~~

Red Light Go
Release date: 2005-06-14; DVD
Best price: $13.26
Price in other shops: ~~$24.95~~

Quicksilver
Sony; Release date: 2002-12-10; DVD
Best price: $7.71
Price in other shops: ~~$14.94~~

Breaking Away (Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2002-01-29; DVD
Best price: $5.40
Price in other shops: ~~$9.98~~

The Immortal Class: Bike Messengers and the Cult of Human Power
by Travis Culley
Random House Trade Paperbacks; Published: 2002-08-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.34
Price in other shops: ~~$19.00~~

Similar DVD Movies

B.I.K.E.: Be Inclusive Kill Exclusivity
Bike Films, LLC; Release date: 2008-04-15; Published: 2007; DVD
Best price: $10.80
Price in other shops: ~~$24.95~~

2 Seconds
Release date: 2000-08-15; DVD
Best price: $15.83
Price in other shops: ~~$24.95~~

Fast Friday
INFINITE QUEST PRODUCTIONS; Release date: 2008-07-30; DVD
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops: ~~$24.99~~

El Amateur
Release date: 2006-06-13; DVD
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops: ~~$5.98~~

The Flying Scotsman
TCFHE/MGM; Release date: 2007-09-18; Published: 2003; DVD
Best price: $5.50
Price in other shops: ~~$14.98~~

American Flyers
Team Marketing; Release date: 1999-12-21; DVD
Best price: $2.41
Price in other shops: ~~$9.98~~

Breaking Away (Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2002-01-29; DVD
Best price: $4.31
Price in other shops: ~~$9.98~~

Quicksilver
Sony; Release date: 2002-12-10; DVD
Best price: $7.75
Price in other shops: ~~$14.94~~

Pedal (Book & DVD)
by Zephyr, Ken Miller, Swoon
powerHouse Books; Published: 2006-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.77
Price in other shops: ~~$29.95~~