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Keep the River on Your Right
A friend of mine mentioned this movie to me a year or so ago and sparked my initial intrigue. It wasn't until this past weekend however that I had both the time and the Netflix account required to view it (I haven't been able to find this movie any other place).
While not the best documentary I've seen, I did enjoy the film - I'd classify it as decent. It pretty much chronicled Tobias' return to two indigenous tribes he spent time with in the 50's. Unfortunately, the film put too much emphasis on Tobias' level of cultural participation and acceptance for my tastes. It seemed the film was aimed at more red-state viewers, to whom alternate social practices are not accepted and some of the things Tobias did would come off as a real shock. I enjoyed the film because I can totally relate to Tobias' urge to experience foreign things and not just observe or visit them. While I haven't gone to some of the lengths he has in becoming one with an area, I've definitely tried to get a sense of the local culture wherever I've gone. So I naturally have a huge amount of respect and admiration for a man who's taken this thinking to the highest level.
For me, the film would have been more interesting if the director put a greater emphasis on how the cultures have evolved since Tobias' departure. Tobias was enamored with purity and humanity he observed in the tribes during his stay; it would have been nice to have a deeper analysis (from Tobias) on whether or not those characteristics were still inherent today.
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