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madali
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« on: October 22, 2011, 02:40:PM » |
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Keep the River on Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale (David Shapiro & Laurie Gwen Shapiro, 2000)
When I was recommended this documentary years ago, I wrote it down in my LIST. Eventually, I got around to getting it, and finally, watching it. At first, I didn't even remember why I was watching it, but the subtitle "A Modern Cannibal Tale" jogged my memory. This was the documentary about the cannibal homosexual tribes!
Well, yes, and no.
There is cannibalism and there is homosexualism, but not combined, and so little of each. Tobias used to visit tribes back in the 60s and wrote a short memoir back then called "Keep the River on Your Right". The documentary is about Tobias, but 40 years later, meaning, we don't really see anything interesting, except an old man whining and mumbling about his life. If I wanted to talk to old men reminisce, I'd visit my grandparents more.
As regarding the homosexualism, there is a tribe that apparently practices homosexual sex and at the same time, they also have wives. Tobias participated in the men to men action, and at first, I thought, what a brave act for a foreigner to engage in, to be part of the tribe! Only to realize that Tobias is ACTUALLY GAY. So, to him, it just normal butt sex with sweaty natives.
Regarding the cannibal part, we hardly get anything on it. The old man is snotty about it and so is the movie, somehow acting like it's not fair that everyone is focused on that part. Then why call your subtitle your fucking documentary "A Modern Cannibal Tale" if you want to be high-and-might about it? There is some talking head that mentions how it is strange that tourists go to remote areas and ask natives personal questions, how would it feel if they came to New York to ask about your own sexual practices? But an answer to that question is, yes, valid point, but why write a book about it then? Why make a documentary about it? We are interested in cultural differences. If you think the attention is not fair, don't write a memoir about it, don't go on talk shows, and don't allow a documentary on yourself. By the way, the old men is irritating. He keeps talking about how amazing those tribes were, but hasn't gone back in 40 years. So stop bullshitting. Yes, it sounds so open-minded to talk about how some tribes lead some great lives, but why don't they live among them. I'm so tired of this hypocrisy. I remember having a small, cheap car, and one of my cousins would constantly tell me how it was so cute and how she loved it. So I asked her, why don't you buy the same one then? And then comes the excuses, how it's too small for her, etc, etc. I'm sick and tired of people being so free with their compliments. If you say you like something a lot, and don't practice it yourself, then you don't.
Oh, the cannibal part. He just ate a tiny little piece. That's it.
2/5
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