Documents the lives of a group of bike messengers over a nearly three-year span. This film was made by couriers, about couriers, for a wide general audience.
Murder of Couriers documents the lives of a group of bike messengers in Vancouver over a nearly three-year span. This feature length film was made by couriers, about couriers, for a wide general audience. The film offers the chance to experience a lifestyle that not many get the privilege to enjoy: the love and hatred for the roads we live on, the chaos of Friday night bike polo and alley-cat races, the affect of the party lifestyle, the poverty associated with the job, the inevitable pitfalls that come with living in the moment and the individuals who endure it all.—Anonymous
Murder of Couriers documents the lives of a group of bike messengers over a nearly three-year span. This film was made by couriers, about couriers, for a wide general audience and offers the chance to experience a lifestyle that not many get the privilege to enjoy.—Awkward Moment Productions
This documentary was recorded in Vancouver, Canada. It follows a group of couriers: people who pick-up and deliver packages from one business to another. In order to avoid traffic jams, the couriers use bicycles allowing them to weave in and out of traffic. The title refers to a group of the same animals: a 'muddle of penguins', a 'bloat of hippos', a 'shrewdness of apes 'or in this case a 'murder of crows'. The title screen even has the words 'Murder of Couriers' behind a flock of birds.
The film describes the life: early morning getting the bike ready and finding a spot on the sidewalk to await assignments. There the couriers interact with each other and enjoy the lifestyle. No cooped-up feeling of sitting at the same desk all day. The job keeps the riders fit. Another benefit is that couriers can show-up hung-over and still perform. It's good for the body and escaping office politics makes it good for the soul. One courier even says that cars will hurt them (it's a question of 'when' not 'if') but working in an office will drive them crazy.
The doc goes then follows the couriers to their homes, shows them when they invent games to pass the time - bicycle polo uses bicycles instead of ponies. Even when they hold a race almost guaranteeing injury (one rider swerved to avoid a pedestrian, hit a cab and broke his collarbone). A route is laid out which each contestant must follow in order to get their manifest signed. The quickest courier (with or without injury) who completes the course with all required signatures wins.
Wrapping up the doc is a montage of current couriers who look on the job as a welcome break before moving on - getting a traditional job.
