3 Way Junction

Inspired by real events, a London architect travels to the grand dunes of the Namibian Desert to escape. But when he finds himself stranded alone, desperately waiting for a ride that never comes, he must embark on a bitter rite of passage.

3 Way Junction is one of those movies that sets aside action and drama for mood and the inner drama of a character's life. You usually find this sort of slow pacing and attention to detail in independent films. I am not as impatient with these movies as many viewers are, but I will say that introspective movies such as 3 Way Junction usually are a study of a deep personal crisis. Someone close has died, or a couple has broken up; some life event is causing the main character to feel like their life has slowed down for their inspection. In this movie, it is merely architect Carl's frustration with his job. It almost doesn't seem important enough for us to slow down and study his life alongside him. I say 'almost' because I did stick with the movie until the end. The witty interplay between Carl and a woman he meets is fun to witness, and just enough happens between them and around Carl to keep me involved. But I confess I worked on something else while I watched it, as it didn't quite earn all of my attention. So I recommend working on a jigsaw puzzle, or crochet a hat, or check your emails as you watch. The movie is worth a look if you don't try to stare hard and long at it to glean it's inner meaning.