Big River Man
Dir: John Maringouin
2009
****
Big river man is like a comedy Werner Herzog documentary. The comedy never seems staged either, Martin Strel is a larger than life character with peculiar mannerisms and a slightly unhinged group of followers who you just couldn't make up. You can't fake the swimming either. Strel attempts to swim 3,375 miles down the mighty Amazon River, fueled on determination, stubbornness and lots of Red Wine. It's not just a comedy though, it deals quite seriously with the dangers of obsession and the descent into madness. It's got a very appropriate amateur feel about it (probably because it is amateur) but it does loose a few points for trying to be clever at the end. It all gets a little expressionist, a little existential and dabbles in a bit of symbolism - something that just doesn't work with it's constant narration. Still, it is just a minor criticism, I haven't enjoyed a documentary this much in a long time and I highly recommend it!