The Perfect Road documentary took Danish directors and cousins Adam and Christian Bonke on an extreme journey across some of Europe’s highest mountain passes, following nomadic cyclist Maximilian Schnell. To capture his ride, the filmmakers ended up living in a campervan for three months, a logistical challenge that also gave them a closer look at the life they were filming.
The film, produced by Elk Film and Dogwoof, is a character study and a meditation on modern life, priorities and life choices. It shows how the road can bring freedom and adventure while also imposing grueling physical and mental demands—not only on Schnell but also on the directors and their cinematographer.
A Small Campervan and a Satellite Car
Adam Bonke recalls the setup as three grown men in a not-so-big campervan loaded with a lot of equipment. A smaller car served as a satellite vehicle that could be sent onto narrow roads the campervan could not handle.
Christian Bonke describes the daily upkeep as a headache: water had to be put into the car and the toilet had to be emptied. After a day of shooting, the crew still had to take care of those tasks.
The production considered different strategies for capturing footage. Initially, the plan was to use several camera people over the three-month adventure. That changed when their director of photography was kicked out by his girlfriend, according to Christian Bonke. The DP then said he would do all three months, calling it perfect for him, and Adam and Christian took turns.
Comfort Enough and a Trade-Off
Adam Bonke says the arrangement was not a holiday or super-comfortable, but it was comfortable enough. More importantly, it allowed the filmmakers to get a better feel for Schnell’s life choices.
He recalls Schnell saying he was trading comfort for freedom, a line that Adam Bonke believes frames the film perfectly.
The duo still looks back fondly on the experience. Christian Bonke says they often talk about missing those days and describes it as beautiful, with a feeling of being embraced by nature. After meeting Max, he adds, they were struck by how conventional and boring traditional life can be and by how many constraints their lives at home had. The shoot offered them a glimpse of living his way.
Festival Screenings
Perfect Road world premiered at Zurich and is now screening at the 30th anniversary edition of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia. Jonatan Mose served as cinematographer, with editing handled by Martin Anthon. Andreas Dalsgaard, Anna Godas, Oli Harbottle and Miriam Nørgaard served as producers.
