Volkswagen "Ashes" (2017) 1:30 (USA)
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Not to say the story isn’t compelling, though. The old woman is a fantastic actor, weeping her way across America while the rest of the family gamely give her the courage to soldier on until they can finally dump grandpa’s ashes in the sea. The music choice is a bit odd. Perhaps they figured no one would listen beyond hearing the sweeping “America,” over and over again, but the subject matter of the song represents the elusive American dream. This was a theme for Simon and Garfunkel at this period in their career. Just one year before they had several huge hits in the quintessential baby boomer movie The Graduate, especially with “Sounds of Silence.” That song too is also about searching for the mainstream dreams the rest of the country holds dear and not finding it.
And while this spot makes for beautiful scenery (and let’s be honest, running footage, too) this is an oddly depressing story. If the cinematography weren’t so dark there would have been some light at the end of the trip. As it was, I half expected a large family suicide pact at the end. In short: a large family driving around in a seven-seater car that costs thirty-five thousand dollars. Because nothing says America like riding in a giant car that costs more than sixty percent of the average family of four’s salary. A car made by a foreign company, no less. Well, all righty then.
