Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
In 1996, electric cars began to appear on roads all over California. They were quiet and fast, produced no exhaust, and ran without gasoline... Ten years later, these cars were destroyed.
A compelling investigative documentary that structures its central mystery around who is responsible for killing the EV1 program — assigning 'suspects' in a clever courtroom-style format that gives the narrative real drive and urgency. The storytelling is its strongest asset, though the filmmaking itself is functional rather than distinguished, with straightforward talking-head interviews and archival footage rather than cinematic ambition. As a documentary, 'acting' translates to interview subjects and advocates — mostly earnest but uneven in screen presence. The ending delivers a bittersweet but cautiously optimistic coda, effective without being remarkable. Novelty is moderate: the subject matter was fresh and galvanizing in 2006, but the documentary style is conventional, keeping it from being truly singular in form.