Whatever comes – around the world by motorcycle

Christian Vogel is 34 years old, a television editor, newly in love – and still has a plan: to ride around the world by motorcycle. He gives up his flat, quits his job, says goodbye to his girlfriend and family. He does not know how long he will be away.

On 19 May 2015, he sets off.

The route

What lies ahead of him is a route that takes him across the world – and through countries that are anything but standard destinations for motorcycle travellers: the USA, Canada, Russia, China, Mongolia, Pakistan, India, Iran.

Vogel is not travelling as a professional adventurer with a sponsorship contract and support crew. He is travelling as someone fulfilling a heartfelt wish – and discovering along the way what that actually means.

What makes the documentary special

“Whatever comes” is a three-part travel documentary of 52 minutes each – almost three hours of material in total. Enough time for depth. Vogel does not just show the spectacular moments: the Pamir, deserts, steppe, endless highways. He also shows what happens between these images. Bureaucracy. Fatigue. Homesickness. Doubt.

Time and again, it is helpful people who appear in seemingly hopeless situations and help him move forward. It is this observation that runs through all good motorcycle round-the-world travel documentaries: the world out there is friendlier than the headlines suggest.

And then, in India, there is a serious accident. Suddenly, it is no longer about when the journey will continue, but whether it will continue at all. This is the moment when the documentary finds its true core.

Conclusion

My impression: “Whatever comes” is one of the most honest travel documentaries I have seen. Vogel does not portray himself as a hero, but speaks openly about happiness, exhaustion and the realisation of what life is actually about. A clear recommendation – especially for anyone currently wondering whether they should really set off themselves.

Available on Amazon Prime Video, on DVD/Blu-ray and occasionally in the ARD Mediathek. More information on the film website.