Big River Man

In quiet an unorthodox way, Slovenian Martin Strelhas made his mark in history - and the GuinnessBook of Records - as one of the world's greatestswimmers. In his 50s, slightly overweight andfond of wine and life's other indulgences, Strelhas still managed to conquer some of the mostchallenging waters - including the Mississippi.In BIG RIVER MAN , director John Maringouindocuments Strel's showdown with the mostdangerous river of them all - the mighty Amazon.Over 66 days, Strel covers 3 375 miles and is facedwith water predators, rapids and toxic pollution.It is an extraordinary feat that will push him tothe limits, both physically and mentally.

Starting off as a fairly conventionaldocumentary, the film soon takes on a moreerratic nature. Jump cuts, slow motion andstartling sound design all serve illustrate Strel'sincreasingly unstable mind, leaving the audiencein doubt of what is real and what is fiction. ButBIG RIVER MAN is not only a tragic-comiccharacter study. It also aims to send a heartfeltmessage, as Strel's goal is to raise awarenessof global pollution.