Perfect Road follows a cyclist's 204-peak ride across Europe
Maximilian Schnell quit his job and his life in Paris to live on a bicycle.
That choice drives Perfect Road, a documentary by Danish brothers Adam and Christian Bonke, which screened at the 70th BFI London Film Festival after its world premiere — its first public showing — in Zurich, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The film tracks Schnell through some of Europe's highest mountain passes. The route runs across the Pyrenees and the Alps, the mountain ranges that divide France from Spain and sweep across south-central Europe.
His target is simple to state and hard to do. Cycle every paved road above 2,000 metres. In total, that means 204 peaks, described in production notes shared by Elk Film.
The camera stays close for the climb. Jonatan Mose served as cinematographer, with editing by Martin Anthon. The film was produced by Elk Film and Dogwoof, with Andreas Dalsgaard, Anna Godas, Oli Harbottle and Miriam Nørgaard credited as producers.
It is not only a ride. Schnell's relationship with his partner, Nina, pulls him in another direction and forces him to weigh freedom against commitment.
London gave the story a festival platform. The 70th BFI London Film Festival ran for 12 days from 7 to 18 October and presented 251 titles in its programme, according to the BFI. Perfect Road was listed for Friday 16 October 2026 at 20:30, with London tickets for the festival starting from £10, according to the BFI.
What makes this stand out for a general audience is the scale. No support car saga. Just one rider, high roads, and a life stripped back to weather, legs and luggage, with a relationship waiting off the mountain.
