 
Keep the River on Your Right - A Modern Cannibal Tale
Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 16
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 On: 2007-12-16
This is a fairly remarkable documentary of one mans adventure, his earnest attempt to get "closer to the essence of man". This isnt so much a cannibal tale though, as its being hyped up to be.
Tobias Schneebaum was an artist that bravely ventured into the depths of the Amazon jungle. He became close to some of the most primitive tribes in the world in the late 50s. He emersed himself in their lifestyle in order to better understand them.
On one occasion this included a killing raid, in which he also participated in eating human flesh. Tobias says he is still haunted by that horrific moment decades later. He claims to have done it just to fit in with the rest of the tribe.
This film doesnt really concentrate on the cannibalism though, it talks more of his other experiences and memories. He also had a male lover in the tribe, which was common practice. Aside from that, the lifestyle seemed simple but interesting. The people were very compassionate and spiritual.
There is not much shocking stuff depicted on this documentary though. Sorry, no murders, cannibalism, orgies. There was a ceremonial circumsision, that I didnt particularly need to see. Thats what I get for trying to see some disgusting stuff, I guess. This story probably inspired the sick cult favorite Cannibal Holocaust, I imagine...
 On: 2007-10-26
Tobias Schneebaum was a talented young painter whose life was transforned when he went to Peru on a Fulbright scholarship in 1955. Tobias ended up visiting a Catholic mission in the Amazon and from there began a jungle trek to find the cannibalistic Harakambuts. Tobias lived with the tribe for 7 months and even went with them on a violent raid of an enemy tribe where he observed people being killed in warfare. He also participated in a Harakambut ritual which involved the eating of human flesh. Upon his return to the modern world Tobias found himself unable to paint but he continued to follow his interest in primal societies, also spending substanial time with the Asmat tribe of New Guinea.
This documentary recounts Tobias previous experiences while also taking him back to Peru and New Guinea to visit the tribal societies he had once lived with. The movie also juxtaposes Tobias life in Manhattan with the life and culture of the tribes. For example, an Indonesian circumsison ritual is depicted as is Tobias attending of a family celebration on a Jewish holiday. I especially loved the part which showed a New Guinea man, in full tribal regalia, attending an auction to sell tribal art to New York collectors. Tobias translated that the man was enjoying his trip because he liked the culture of New York. Talk about being a "stranger in a strange world" - just amazing!. Still the point seemed to be that the the core qualities we share as fellow human beings are so much stronger and deeply rooted than the superfical differences that separate us.
But really this doc is less an in-depth anthropological study than a celebration of the incredible life of Tobias Schneebaum. Though he gave up painting, Tobias continued throughout his life to exemplify the attitude and perspective of an artist, as he searched endlessly for the type of life force and vitality that he experienced most intensely while livng with the Harakambut and Asmat peoples. I found him to be a fascinating, even heroic, character and hope that other people are able to enjoy the same level of pleasure and insight that I did with this great documentary.
On: 2007-09-19
How amazing! Until I opened this DVD I had never heard of Tobias Scheenbaum. How sad that is! And how far ahead of his time he was. How ironic, to watch him tell his story on the Mike Douglas show in the 60s, only to see what a backward nation we were then - and remain, in many ways. How closed-minded, how ignorant and judgemental of the ways of others; how lacking in self-awareness of our own!
This incredible human being walked the journey of the Fool of the Tarot, open to all life had to offer, and willing to learn from even the most emotionally traumatizing of experiences.
Learning from what is called "primitivism" is really quite trendy today, but even at that, most white tourists choose to remain "above the fray," clinging to an air of superiority that is unjustifed and that makes learning impossible.
I loved, loved, loved this documentary. And now I am going to read this mans books, to enhance my own spiritual journey.
Taboo - The Complete First Season (National Geographic)
Taboo - The Complete Second Season (National Geographic)
National Geographic: Explore Your Mind - History and People
 On: 2007-05-31
This film is an excellent documentary about the life of the late Tobias Schneebaum, which features a segment on his time in Peru and his cannibalism experience. This film also includes segments about Schneebaums research into homosexuality in "primitive" societies.
If you are looking for a film focusing on cannibalism, then look elsewhere.
 On: 2007-02-07
I was very excited to view this film but found myself incredibly disappointed. This movie was NOT in anyway about an adventurer or journalist discovering tribes or cannibals which happen to practice homosexuality but rather just a dull putz from New York who branched out to find different sexual partners.
Tobias was in no way an entertaining man nor were the film producers very wise for creating this documentary which showed more about his homosexuality than it does entertaining footage of meeting with his reunited cannibal tribes or scenery.
Taking a look at the cover and summary was far more incredible than the actual movie. I give the cover of the film an 8. Movie 0.
On: 2006-11-17
Tobias Schneebaum has little love for the West. We are supposedly the backward ones unwilling to accept the advanced thinking of Third World cultures. They are our superiors in how to live the good life. We are regrettably too uptight and arrogant to get our act together. Do you believe such nonsense? I most certainly do not. The Harakamut natives living in the Amazon are to be pitied, not emulated. It is only the Western missionaries, business people, and altruistic organizations that have encouraged them to abandon their long established customs of butchering each other and outright cannibalism. The almost eighty year old Schneebaum is the quintessential example of multicultural ideology gone amuck. He literally asserts that he had no moral right to stop the slaughter of innocent people! We Westerners are to remain silent and not interfere with the cultural mores of the indigenous peoples. And yes, our morally challenged explorer has even eaten human flesh.
Fellow nihilist Norman Mailer also makes an appearance to endorse Tobias Schneebaum, his friend of some five decades. These two men have much in common. Mailer is the one who helped convicted murderer Jack Abbott get released from prison---who soon thereafter murdered a restaurant employee. The infamous novelist could care less that he inflicted the aspiring writer Abbott onto an innocent public. "Culture is worth a little risk," was Mailers rationalization. Viewing this dvd is of utmost importance. You need to clearly understand just how far gone are the radical leftists who heavily influence our media and intellectual institutions.
David Thomson
Flares into Darkness
 On: 2006-06-03
In the wrong hands, even the astonishing can be dull. What Tobias Schneebaum did transcends our wildest imagination - an act of pure daring and liberty. A dyed-in-the-wool NYC egghead, painter, and amateur anthropologist, he shed the trappings of society as we know it and lost himself in primitivism - not once but twice. His first episode was in Peru, in the 50s. Walking alone in the jungle, Schneebaum simply "fell in" with a headhunting tribe called the Amarekaire and lived as they did for a year. This involved cannibalism, participating in a murderous rampage, and multiple homosexual encounters - which suited him nicely, since he was already "out." (Indeed it must be observed that Mr. Schneebaums instinct for finding primitive cultures that actively practice homosexuality is unswerving.)
Returning home, Schneebaum became something of a minor celebrity, and we see clips of him telling his mind-boggling tale on talk shows, college campuses, and cruise ships. Not content with one such experience, he repeated his feat in Papua New Guinea, where he lived among the Asmat, another headhunting tribe who, as luck would have it, practice a rather enthusiastic form of multiple-partner homosexuality, (in addition to participating in heterosexuality for purposes of procreation).
That Schneebaum survived these surreal escapades is stunning, but a great story is not a great movie, and Keep The River On Your Right is just dreadful. The central problem, beyond the various inadequacies of its directors, David and Laurie Shapiro, is the man himself, Tobias Schneebaum. Schneebaum is on camera a lot, we are subjected to his lugubrious, plodding, and thoroughly insipid delivery ad nauseum until secretly we wish the cannibals had put him on the menu. It is as if Schneebaums ability to blend in with these headhunting tribes, so thoroughly foreign to his own culture, came about as the result of an absolute lack of personality, character, will, or self. There is something disturbing, even creepy, about Schneebaums passivity, he is able to watch the Amarekaire headhunters slaughter a rival tribe, and participate in the event, because "thats what they did."
Schneebaums adventures may thrill, Schneebaum does not. This kills the picture because the aging Schneebaum, 78 when we meet him, is the films centerpiece. That his adventures are useless from an anthropological standpoint is totally ignored, in much the same way that Grizzly Man ignores the way Timothy Treadwell put the bears in danger while risking his own life. All that remains to redeem this film is some nice location footage from New Guinea and Peru. Sadly, Keep The River On Your Right fails here too. Instead of giving viewers a sense of what these otherworldly experiences must have looked and felt like, we see ragged remnants. Watching a toothless retired headhunter in a Mickey Mouse T-shirt, Bermuda shorts, and flip flops watching I Love Lucy re-runs piped in from a satellite dish may tell us a lot about how totally insane our world is, but it tells us nothing about Mr. Schneebaums experience.
Perhaps the greatest value of the film is that it will give you a newfound respect for screenwriters, actors, cinematographers, and actual directors. In the hands of professionals, the astounding truth of Tobias Schneebaum might have been revealed, instead of the dreary facts.
On: 2006-03-19
I felt this was an extremly satisfying movie to see. If felt very complete. You can read elsewhere that the directors drug a reluctant 79 year old Schneebaum back to what was left of his past. Its the real surprises that add to an already great doc and subject. As the subject of the film, Mr. Shneebaum is a facinating person. Your first perception of him in the begining is of an elderly New Yorker that would seem to look out of place anywhere outside of Manhattan. You come to learn that his perception of the world around him and acceptance of the moment enable him to travel freely into places where western explorers only venture with several weeks worth of supplies. This man did it with canvas deck shoes, a t-shirt, and shorts.
Possibly becouse of his unconventional acceptance of the obviuos, he is able to relate to the indiginous peoples of New Guinea and Peru.
Though he protests searching further for people and villages that must not have survived, the directors push him forward; and to great reward. They actually find some of the people he wrote about. This finally gives legitamacy to his books which have been long critisied for actually have ever happened. The satisfaction of seeing him find the people he thinks must have been long dead is akin to finally seeing an alien in a UFO documentary.
Another unexpected surprise is the almost chance meeting of a long lost lover that he had said goodbye to for the last time many years ago. This presents an amazingly touchig situation where Shneebaum has to once again say goodbye for the final time as both are in their late years.
Footage of interveiws from the 60s - 70s realy drive this film home. Chauncey talk show hosts seem to dismiss this person who has done something few people have, instead obcessing on his dismissal of social morays and acceptance of living with and approaching people on their terms. Every interveiwer seems to miss the point over and over again, at times it seems like Shneebaum who answers questions with a buddhist like calmness is the only sane person on stage.
If you are looking for a movie about cannibalism or homosexuality, this is not it. These two things have about as much relevence to the movie as what day of the week he was born on. See this movie to see a refreshing look at people and the impact of westernism. If you want to laugh you will laugh, if you want to cry you will cry. If you want to be rightous and indignant than you will be afforded that chance as well.
On: 2005-06-05
This interesting if somewhat aimless and meandering documentary takes us into the life of Tobias Schneebaum, an openly gay artist, anthropologist, and author who spent a year in his early career with a tribe of cannabalistic Peruvian natives. Now well into his 70s, Mr. Schneebaum is convinced by a group of independent filmmakers to return to the jungle and see if anything of this once interesting tribe still exists.
Juxtaposed alongside this story is the life of Mr. Schneebaum, showing his family, his art, and his brief shot into the Hollywood spotlight after the news of his tasting of human flesh comes out.
Some of the filming of this documentary is startling. Seeing Peruvian ruins and the amazing rainforests were certainly spectacles to be reckoned with. But the off-beat glimpses into cannibalism were so short and unengaging that I felt the title of the film to be misleading ("Keep the River on Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale"). The film is really about Tobias Schneebaum and, to a very large extent, his sexual preferences and how they mirrored some of the Peruvian tribes.
A more appropriate title wouldve been "The Life and Times of Tobias Schneebaum".
On: 2005-03-22
I was left hungry for more substance from this documentry but realized there was no more. "Mr. Scheenbaum is articulate and witty and a good storyteller" returning to the Peruvian Amazon to find the cannibals he once knew...but there are no cannibals in Peru or anywhere esle in the world. The idea that this foreigner went to a country where he knows nothing of its culture and assumes so much is not a surprise but the fact that he is promoting these fibs is sad. Cannibalism exists in films like Tarzan and Romancing The Stone or Indian Jones tales...these are western fabrications. I am from Peru and knows very well the researched facts. I also know that in order to preserve sacred knowledge some tribes have been known to miss-direct outsiders so that they assume a false insight when in reality they are not
learning anything sacred at all.
there is nothing primitive nor exotic about Peruvians living in the Amazon. But it is always the need to asume this when foreign to different cultuures-The word modern was created to assume everything else to be primitive...it is used as a higher archy similar to high art and low art...primitive art is low while contemporary art is high art....
I dont suggest this video to anyone.....I would suggest The well researched book FLASH OF THE SPIRIT by Robert Farris Thompson.
"Mr. Scheenbaum is a good storyteller" but not a true story!
On: 2005-03-22
This film is typical for the genre: rich kids wanting to squander part of their trust fund in order to play "film makers." I was hoping for something insightful, engaging, or at least mildly interesting when I bought this DVD, and instead I was deeply disappointed.
Schneebaum seems slightly more interesting than your garden variety NY parlor intellectual, and I give him credit for hanging out in the jungle for seven months, and for not being squeamish about eating a bit of human flesh. I was going to say "back in the 50s" but I think people then were actually more daring and open intellectually in many ways than people now. but he *is* an amateur and he *is* overly sentimental and involved with his jungle buddies in ways I found indulgent and silly, and Im not really talking about the rump-humping. Of course banging or get banged by his little jungle buddies is one kind of experience, and he seems senstive and sensible enough, but I could not help thinking that he basically let his fantasies and his own persona become such a large part of his experiences as to make them ultimately less interesting, to me anyway.
But I found most of the movie just plain dull. See Tobias lecture Barnard students. See Tobias kiss old native guy with missing teeth wearing dirty T-shirt. See Tobias slowly walk up stone steps. See Tobias get out of boat, slowly. And on and on and on.
The cannibals themselves? eh, I just dont know what to think. They seem less noble in their modern manifestation, scattered beer bottles, cheap dirty Chinese knock-off clothes, satellite TV bringing in Spanish language soap operas. But who am I to say, I guess drinking cheap beer in your dirty Chinese made PJs and watching random Mexican TV shows is an easier and preferable life to dodging snakes in the jungle and bashing in some other Injuns head so you can eat his genitals and rump.
On: 2004-07-21
In 1955, Manhattan artist Tobias Schneebaum traveled to Peru on a Fulbright scholarship. He visited a remote Dominican mission, where he allowed curiosity about the local tribespeople to lure him into the jungle. He spent seven months in the jungle with the Amarekaire people (now called Harakambut), who were cannibals, and was presumed dead. But he emerged from the jungle no longer interested in an artists career, deciding to pursue anthropology instead. In 1969, he wrote a book, "Keep the River on Your Right", about his experiences in the Amazon jungle. Schneebaum went on to live among the headhunting Asmat of New Guinea, as well. The extraordinary thing is that these cultures accepted him. This film tells the story of Tobias Schneebaums unusual adventures in his own words and takes him back to Peru, at the age of 78, to find the tribespeople whom he had not seen in 45 years.
Its difficult to know how to rate this film, because it is a poorly crafted film about an interesting subject. The films nonsensical organization obstructs most of the narrative. Its camera work leaves something to be desired. "Keep the River on Your Right" starts out in the present, then flashes back to some point in the recent past when Schneebaum visited the Asmat people in New Guinea, with whom he had lived in the 1970s. Then we learn about his life as an artist in New York. Then about his childhood. At the films halfway point, we still have no idea where his infamous Peruvian adventure, from which the film takes its name, fits in or how Schneebaum came to be such a dogged adventurer. The second half is better. Schneebaum returns to Peru at the filmmakers urging to recount his experience of 45 years before and to search for any Amarekaire who might remember him. Returning to scenes of past trauma, film crew in tow, has somehow become fashionable among documentary filmmakers. Tobias Schneebaum is a mild-mannered man who is afraid of dead mice but fearless among cannibals and headhunters who were strangers to him. His story is interesting, even if "Keep the River on Your Right" makes it difficult to follow.
The DVD: Bonus features include deleted scenes, a photo gallery, sketches by Tobias Schneebaum, a "Jungle Journey" book excerpt, a Tobias Schneebaum biography, and a bio of the filmmakers. There are 9 deleted scenes, most of which are not actually new scenes, but slightly more footage of scenes that were in the movie. Theyre not worth watching. The Photo Gallery features 10 photographs, some of which are of Schneebaum in his youth before he went to Peru. "Jungle Journey" is a childrens book written in 1959 by Mary Britton Miller, inspired by Schneebaums jungle experience, which he illustrated. A few pages of the book are included. The bios are text.
On: 2004-03-24
The filmmakers trailed Tobias Schneebaum, an artist turned anthropologist, back to the villages and lands where he worked over 40 years ago. It was fascinating to retrace Schneebaums steps through Papua New Guinea, as well as the in the jungles of Peru. I was amazed at the courage and strength of a man in his 70s climbing Machu Pichu, and braving the rainforests of New Guinea in order to find old friends.The talk show footage from the 1960s/1970s was particularly interesting to me. The talk show host was very interested in the aspects of this "primitive" culture, and persisted with prejudiced questions. Mr. Schneebaum spoke for the people he studied, and helped people understand that they are no different. One qualm I had was the movies subtitle: A Modern Cannibals Tale. I felt that it was not a major part of the movie, and that the directors made a big deal out of it. Was it for marketing: Cannibals always sell? I do not think that a few isolated incidences of cannibalism make someone a life-long cannibal. It was silly to even put the word in the title. The movie offers so much more.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-12-10
What a wonderful film by this brother-sister team - especially deserving of its many awards. (I think they won the Independent Spirit Awards best documentary, because I recall seeing the directors on that show.) Tobias schneebaum is truly an extraordinary man - and this reverse journey from his present to his past is sort of a reverse odysessy. The previous reviewer is missing the point - this film is not about indigine=ous peoples or anyone else - its about one man - and the directors have him in practically every frame - a wise choice. Only a few people could keep my interest for the length of a movie. Exceptional.
On: 2003-09-27
This is sopposed to be the updated story of homosexual turned cannibal, Tobias Scheenbaum who went to the Brazilian jungle many years ago and became a native only to return and write a book by the same name as the movie.
I had high hopes for the film. I thought I would learn of his original adventure, I thought I would get insights into the extraordinary people of the amazon with footage of the mountains and the rain forest. Scheenbaum walked past Machu Pichu to get to the headwaters of the Amazon(he walked from the wrong side obviously not through Brazil). But we dont see this in the film. Lets talk about what we do see:
The film opens with elderly Scheenbaum talking to a class at a museum. Then it talks a little about his book that turned the worlds attention to him. Then we follow him to east Asia where he speaks on a cruise about cannibals in east Asia.
A terrible film, an awful documentary. Inexcusable this film! How could the directors get away with having a movie that says it will tell the sotry of this odd dimented individual and yet tells no story at all. A total farce! We see NOTHING of the amazon, yet the film bills itself as Scheenbaums return to the people he orignally went native with.
Much emphasis is made of the fact that Scheenbaum is gay and that he found gay natives where ever he went. This is an interesting side note but the film emphasized this aspect to much. Who cares that he was homosexual? I was interested in the cannabalism. The film bills itself as a story of modern day cannabalism yet their is no story and we learn NOTHING of this. We only learn about Scheenbaums boring eveyrday life and his homoerotic(or so he thinkgs) escapades with natives in east Asia.
A TERRRIBLE BILKING OF THE AUDIENCE, watch this film with no expectation to see anything on the cover or any of the description on the back and then you might be happy.
Seth J. Frantzman
by: yaaah69 On: 2002-12-31
Schneebaum is a very charismatic man and to me the adventurous young anthropologist who headed into the jungles of Peru and Papua, New Guinea had much more huevos than most. And reducing him to the gay, feminine, non aggressive catagory,as being the only way he could be accepted into the tribe is just pure horse sh**. It only brings about the pure ignorance of what most people think gay is...If Schneebaum wanted to prove that to be left to their natural inklings a tribe would run the gambit of sexual desires and he participated in the homosexual rites does not mean that homosexuality was not there... and the most the other anthropologists could come up with was; "he didnt keep a therapeutic distance" from the people he was studying.It was in the Amazon Valley that something happened to Tobias, was it the raid on the other village and the killing of that tribe, or was it the eating of human flesh, had he almost gone over the brink. He was a painter until that experience and after, he never painted again. As far as the cannibal part, and why he did it, who knows as Tobias cannot come up with a logical answer, and as far as judging him for doing it, one must face his own demons in a situation that brought him to the brink. Had he gone to far,did the jungle cast him out? It is a strange movie, but, although the subject matter is off the scale, it was entertaining. And one must give Tobias a nod for having the fortitude to go back and face his demons, and stare them down. Im sure most people would not think that a "gay" thing to do.
ciao yaaah69 4/5
On: 2002-01-17
Originally released as "Once I was a Cannibal", this is a documentary about Tobias Scheenbaum, a 78 year old gay man, who traveled to New Guinea and Peru in the fifties and has some weird and wild tales to tell. Mr. Scheenbaum lives in Manhattan, gives lectures about his travels at museums and tourist ships and has written several books about his experiences. Now, filmmakers David and Laurie Shapiro have created this film which has won several awards among independent filmmakers. They travel back to New Guinea and Peru with him and the audience sees that many of the people of these regions remember Mr. Scheenbaum with affection. One of the New Guinea men used to be his lover. Then, they travel back to Peru, where Mr. Scheenbaum recalls going on a hunt with the tribesmen that resulted in murder and cannibalism. And, yes, he did sample a bit of human flesh. Mr. Scheenbaum is articulate and witty and a good storyteller. Hes speaks openly about his homosexuality and there is a lot of introspection about his experience of cannibalism. Hes written several books on the subject and we see film clips from excerpts from talk shows hes been on through the years. While I found the movie interesting, I had a big problem with it. Its all about Mr. Scheenbaum. Its not about the people of New Guinea or Peru. I guess I was hoping for an anthropological film. I wanted to know more about the tribe in New Guinea than the fact that Mr. Scheenbaum had male lovers. I wanted to know what the meaning of cannibalism had in the rituals of the people of Peru. I wanted to know about both these tribes religious customs, marriage rituals, burial practices, etc. In short, I wanted to take my own trip into the rainforest and learn about the way of these people. Alas, this was not to happen. This was a film about Tobias Scheenbaum and his own filters through which he viewed his experiences. Its all about him, not the people he came in contact with. And that, to me was the weakness of the film. I just wish that some filmmakers would want to do a film about the fast-disappearing non-literate cultures of the world without making it a celebration to the enlightening experiences of an American. Theres stuff out there about the real people in New Guinea and Peru that is indeed worthwhile to film. This is a not a bad film for what it is. Theres nice film footage of New Guinea and the rainforest. The documentary techniques are professional. And the viewer comes away with some insights into the persona of Tobias Scheenbaum. But I cannot hide my disappointment in wanting something more.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-01-01
If you like documentaries, then this strange tale is a must see. Someone else already gave a good synposis and overview, so I wont repeat one. I found Tobias, the subject, to be a very sympathetic character and downright likable. At a minimum, I respect the lengths to which he explored the world to find a place that was a good fit for him. Alas, most humans dont have the courage to take that journey. Give this guy some credit! A for effort and A for the result--neat stuff.
On: 2001-11-19
I have to write this review because I disagree with the other reviewers on this page. See this film! Tobias is a wonderful character and seeing and hearing from him is a gift. The lurid appeal of his story diminishes under his great and tiny spirit.
by: Anonymous On: 2001-06-19
In this engrossing, thought provoking film we are left to form our own opinions. Tobiass opinions are by no means backed by the persistent directors, and so we can see them for what they are - unorthodox and to some of us not accurate. Still, there is a lot to like in this eccentric documentary. One complaint is besides the notoriety of his stay with the natives there is really nothing to document about him.
by: Anonymous On: 2001-05-29
This film documents Tobias Schneebaums reflections on and return to the people and places he first visited some 40 years ago in the Amazon basin of Peru and in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Tobias considers himself an explorer, some consider him an amateur anthropologist, regardless he has done (and immensely enjoyed) going where most of us dream of going doing what most of us dont dare to do. He has lived closely and intimately with clans of a very different culture (that some would very mistakenly call primitive) creating enduring friendships and loving partnerships. Tobias makes no claim to be a great anthropologist or explorer, but he states clearly that as an artist he wanted to share as completely as possible the cultures that few others had even seen. The cinematography is a concatenation of numerous 60-70-80s clips that provide background to Tobias return trips to the jungles. This movie will appeal mostly to those who are familiar with the Asmat and Shuar peoples and who have read any of Tobiass books. My only objection: as the film crew takes him further than he wants to go, his on-screen complaints about his hips and ailments increase. Thats real and understandable enough, but a bit tiresome. By the end, I was as antsy as he was to go home.
On: 2001-05-29
the very essence of this film consists of themes which transend the boundries of culture and belief. no matter how ignorant or educated you are, no matter what your beliefs about life and love, this film will touch you. its a cleverly made, wonderfully moving account of one man coming to grips with his past and sometimes reluctantly sharing his life with the viewer - a definite must see.
On: 2001-05-27
This is a great portray of the life of Tobias, a painter from New York who discovered a passion for tribal people, and who did crazy things like walking for 8 days in the Amazon jungle to meet a tribe he heard had just killed a whole other village. He experienced cannibalism, and later, living with a tribe in Papua New Guinea, found a home since homossexuality was respected there, and he, a homossexual himself, found love there. The film shows Tobias going back to N.Guinea and Peru over 40 years after these events and meeting old friends and memories. What a brilliant life. No wonder he says he is ready to die.
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