Big River Man

This is one of the most bizarre documentaries I've ever seen. Its not a well made film by any means. It looks rather amateur and it is edited and executed like they've just cracked the box open on Final Cut Pro. But the strange thing about this doco is that it's entirely compelling. It chronicles one middle-aged man's determination to swim the length of the Amazon river... a fete never attempted. Its a river full of countless dangers; piranha, anacondas, alligators, parasites, whirlpools and Amazonian natives to name just some. The film begins in a very hokey manner which basically has it's subject, Martin Strel, prancing around like a drunken imbecile. I found this irritating as if they're declaring to the world "We're from Slovenia, aren't we weird?"... but once the marathon swim begins, the movie is captivating. As days begin to meld into each other the story begins to resemble something from Apocalypse Now as Strel slowly slips into madness and delirium. A lot of the editing is forced and unnecessary but the overall journey is well worth watching. As the end credits began to roll it was strange to see Olivia Newton-John's name pop up as a producer. I am guessing she came on board after the fact to help fund it's distribution. Whatever... its a really peculiar movie!

I recently attended a screening of Big River Man at the ICA in London, the film was Directed and shot by John Maringouin (won best cinematographer award at Sundance 2009) follows Martin Strel as he attempts to cover 3,375 miles of the Amazon River in what is being billed as the world's longest swim. What a treat! Easily the best doc I've seen since Man on Wire, Big River Man is a wonderful, very funny, insightful epic road (substitute river) movie on what is still one of the last great unknown frontiers, the mighty Amazon River and the jungle it meanders through. Martin Strel and his son and project manager/PR publicist Borut Strel attended the screening and did a Q&A afterwards, they were both very charming, honest and open in their answers and amazingly modest, since the film pulled no punches, was brutally honest as they fought dozens of physical and psychological barriers to complete their incredible quest of endurance, simply an epic human endeavour. I found this film to be one of the most enjoyable films I've watched in recent years and would urge you to make your best efforts to see it, giving it my highest recommendation to all and everyone to see it since Let The Right One In. Funny fact, the film listed Olivia Newton-John as one of its executive producers (yes Grease), hat's off to her, her money was truly well invested here. Regards Ray Brady - London based indie feature director.

This was like Heart of Darkness meets Fitzcarraldo meets a Herzog nature documentary meets a Herzog person-focused documentary (I.e, Grizzly Man or Little Dieter Needs to Fly).

Plus it's also really funny and with a sense of heart and genuine emotion, and with one of the most entertaining yet enigmatic documentary subjects in recent memory. It wasn't afraid to discuss more serious subject matter (mainly in terms of environmental issues) from time to time, too. The balance between all these elements was surprisingly strong.

It is a little sloppy in presentation and editing, which extends to the low quality of the voiceover audio, too. But in a way, the less than amazing presentation kind of adds to the film's unique charm. Genuinely didn't know whether it was a mockumentary or real the whole time as well...

Big River Man is fantastic movie documenting something that many actors have not done it even in the movie. Martin Strel is one of the greatest heroes of modern age but unfortunately, he will be forgotten very quickly. Quality of the movie is extremely good and the movie is not boring for one single second. This movie is not for people who think about Amazon as a holiday destination but as the only unspoilt and undamaged area on this planet.

To people who do not like, I would suggest them to stick with Hollywood and Tom Cruise style movies. If you do not like the movie then do not watch documentary movies.

I'm sure that many people would like to see more Martin Strel movies.

An other-worldly journey through the limits of human endurance. Martin's first endurance swim was to escape from his abusive father and it is a ritual he seems to repeat on a grander and grander scale, driven on maniacally in the end. At the beginning it looks as though he is in pursuit of fame and acclaim but as the journey goes on it seems as though he may actually be fleeing from the inescapable. On a couple of occasions he abandons large civic receptions arranged for him and swims away out into the night, only a small support boat with a friend with a torch in tow. This documentary is a fascinating manifestation of inner turmoil battled with super-human determination and played out in a savagely beautiful environment.