The film is based on Kerouac's semi-autobiographical take on the Beat Generation of writers in the 1950s.

　　Britain's Sam Riley stars as Kerouac's alter-ego Sal Paradise, who writes about his adventures on a series of road trips with the charismatic Neal Cassidy, played by Garrett Hedlund.

　　Brazilian director Walter Salles says he covered nearly 100,000 kilometers making the film.

　　"I retraced the route of 'On The Road' by interviewing the characters of the book who were alive, the poets from that unique generation that completely altered the face of not only north American culture, but culture in general, and also we also interviewed people from David Byrne to Wim Wenders who were very influenced by the writings of not only Kerouac but the Beat Generation in general," said Salles.

　　Co-stars Kirstens Dunst and Twilight's Kristen Stewart are also in Cannes promoting the film.