Aloha, Bobby and Rose

Aloha, Bobby and Rose is a captivating drama from the mid-seventies directed by Floyd Mutrux, introducing to us a young Los Angeles mechanic, Bobby (Paul Le Mat) and Rose (Dianne Hull), a single mom raising her son without any help.

The film encapsulates the spirit of 1970s America, portraying the underlying themes of youth, unresolved dreams, aspiration for freedom, and the ubiquitous desire to escape the humdrum of daily life. It's a touching and melancholic ballad of young misfits trying to find their way in life, offering a scintillating journey loaded with raw emotions, passion, and unexpected twists and turns.

Bobby lives and breathes cars - fast, shiny, and powerful. He is a car mechanic but dreams one day to escape the gritty surrounds of his everyday existence in East L.A. and cruise to the beautiful and tranquil beach paradise of Hawaii. Rose, on the other hand, labors painstakingly as a single mother, left alone with her five-year-old son after her musician boyfriend had abandoned them. She dreams of one day becoming a popular singer and aspires to be more than just another unnoticed face in the crowd.

Their paths cross randomly. It's love at first sight as these two souls from strikingly dissimilar backgrounds find a common ground in their shared dreams. As new lovers, they indulge in fantastic tales and commit to their shared dream of escaping from their dismal, uncompromising realities. The charming, yet ultimately doomed romance of Bobby and Rose, is exemplified when Bobby, in a bid to impress Rose, pretends to perform a robbery with a water squirt gun at a liquor store, which inadvertently leads to disastrous consequences.

What follows is an unexpected turn of events and a pursuit that forcibly tugs the two into a wild and perilous journey. As the city continuously closes in on them, they set their sights on escaping to a better life in Mexico, lured by the distant mirage of a more peaceful and fulfilling existence away from their chaotic lives.

Paul Le Mat, well known for his strong performance in "American Graffiti," delivers a compelling performance as Bobby, highlighting his acting prowess. Dianne Hull, on the other hand, brings a sweet innocence and depth to her portrayal of Rose, thus strengthening the core of this unusual romance.

The melancholic narrative of Aloha, Bobby and Rose is underscored with a fabulous soundtrack of '70s rock n' roll, providing a pulsating rhythm to the movie and magnetizes viewers with its nostalgic charm. The backdrop of Los Angeles is used as a canvas to paint a vivid story dominated by fast cars, loud music, and the earthy reality of life in the city’s sprawling urban confines. It's a movie that reeks of 1970's Americana, almost acting as a time capsule.

Punctuated with long, silent shots and beautifully framed scenes, Mutrux has built a paradoxically peaceful atmosphere in this otherwise suspenseful and fast-paced movie. Many scenes are not only visually appealing but deliver an unspoken depth of emotion where dialogue is often rendered unnecessary.

The director has imbued every frame of this film with a stark reality that is at once raw and refined, shaping a narrative that starkly contrasts the vivid vibrancy of dreams against the desolate landscape of reality. This relentless juxtaposition offers spectators a complex viewing experience that leaves a profound impact well after the film has ended.

In conclusion, Aloha, Bobby and Rose is a uniquely poetic, atmospheric, and intense film. It's a story of dreams and the terrifying reality that often hides behind these fantasies, told through the lives of two young souls who are inescapably caught in the high-gear grind of city life. It's an enduring tale of an unattainable romantic pursuit of happiness and escape – powered by high-octane passion, growing fear, and an underlying sense of desperation. With its powerful performances and a haunting narrative, Aloha, Bobby and Rose is surely a cinematic gem carved out of the soul of the disco era. Watch this gripping 70's drama for an unforgettable journey into the stark landscape of dreams, realities, nostalgia, and above all, love.