It’s always refreshing and stimulating when you see a film that doesn’t conjure up something you’ve seen before. When it’s a fun watch, it’s a treat, and Kirill Mikhanovsky’s “Give Me Liberty” is exactly that.
Vic (Chris Galust) drives a medical transport van for a living, and almost all of the film’s action takes place in the van or in between van trips and stops. His actual job is to transport people with medical disabilities to their appointments and then back home.
However, on this day, while picking up one of his regulars, he is set upon by a group of Jewish senior citizens who want a ride to the funeral of one of their friends. Vic is incredibly nice and an easy touch, despite almost never smiling. His initial protests to them that he has responsibilities fail miserably against the group. So, he takes them all along on his route. 
Quickly, the van is overfilled with seniors and people with disabilities. He drives recklessly fast in an attempt to get everyone where they want to go, while assuring his dispatcher that he is ten minutes away from finishing his assignment. Making his task even more difficult is that there are riots going on in the area (Milwaukee) that are not detailed until very late in the film. We do know that it involves a police shooting.
As the van careens from one absurd scenario to another, a feeling of camaraderie envelops it all. Some of the stops are great fun and funny, but this never pure comedy. There is always a franticness about it all that never becomes insanely tense, but it keeps “Liberty” from turning into pure comedic farce, and that strategy works beautifully.
One thing prevents “Give Me Liberty” from being outstanding. Near the end, it takes on an avant-garde experimental feel that segues into a deeper message. There is nothing wrong with trying to go deeper, but Mikhanovsky could have achieved it better by avoiding the artsy ending. Nevertheless, “Give Me Liberty” should be required viewing for those that value uniqueness and quality.
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