Road

The thrills and perils of motorcycle road racing are laid bare in this affectionate profile of the Dunlop dynasty. Narrated by Liam Neeson, the film's viewpoint shifts between the careers of Joey and Robert Dunlop from Ballymoney in Northern Ireland and the latter's sons, William and Michael, who have continued the family tradition. Co-directors Michael Hewitt and Diarmuid Lavery pack the picture with archive material and even split the screen at one point to compare footage of Robert and Michael riding the same North West 200 route two decades apart. Plenty of attention is also paid to Joey's recurring success in the Isle of Man TT races. But, while the likes of Murray Walker offer shrewd insights into the psyche of champions, it's the contribution of Joey and Robert's grieving mother and the latter's widow that hits home hardest, as they reveal the downside of being addicted to speed, adrenaline and danger.