A movie as unclassifiable as it is interesting, Jenni Olsen’s captivating The Royal Road, may not be for everyone, but when it resonates with a particular audience member, it will definitely resonate.

Gorgeously shot by Sophia E. Constantinou (Regarding Susan Sontag), The Royal Road is part tone poem, part monologue, part introspection about what it means to be butch, and all over fascinating.

The secret to understanding The Royal Road is to appreciate the project for what it sets out to accomplish, some very long, gorgeous static shots of landmarks in San Francisco and a long monologue by Olsen herself, (with a guest speech by playwright Tony Kushner).

The Royal Road hits all of the proper beats in its relatively brief running time, but the most compelling aspect may be its centrepiece. A brief history of the United States colonization set alongside a map, fills out how and when the U.S. came to statehood especially in her native California, and the history lesson was surprising and insightful all at once.

Again, this movie might not appeal to everyone, but walking the road may yield a bushel of surprises and contemplation for an interested viewer.

[star v=4]