Review: ‘Big River Man’

Being born and raised in Missouri, there’s one thing I know about the Mississippi River… you absolutely do NOT swim in the Mississippi River! You may think a person who has swam the entire 2,000-plus mile length of the Mississippi River would have to be a myth, but that man does exist and his name is Martin Strel. So, it’s no surprise that this man’s accomplishment has resulted in a documentary called ‘Big River Man’.

Then again, this documentary is not about Strel’s successful swim of the Big Muddy. Martin Strel has also swam the Yangtze River in China, considered the most polluted river in the world. So, Strel has successfully swam the strongest river with extremely powerful and deadly undercurrents as well as the most toxic, polluted river… that’s enough, right? Not for Martin Strel. Having nearly died of sickness acquired from swimming the Yangtze, ‘Big River Man’ chronicles Strel’s attempt to swim the legendary Amazon River.

Directed by John Maringouin, ‘Big River Man’ follows Martin as he trains and prepares for swimming the Amazon River, interspersed with segments about Martin Strel the man outside of the swimmer and a bit of history related to what has helped to develop this remarkable man. Strel is a doer, a big man who drinks heavily, even while swimming, stays active and in the spotlight, but has a passion for life. His goal for swimming these vast distances is to promote awareness of the diminishing amount of clean waterways.

The documentary is a playful approach to a man who has accomplished seemingly superhuman feats of physical endurance and mental will. Martin Strel enjoys life and really comes off in the film as a gentle giant. ‘Big River Man’ tells Martin’s story, which is more complex than it seems on the surface, delving into the mind of the man and tinkering with what makes him tick. The film is narrated by Martin’s son Borut.

Despite not being the most masterfully shot and edited documentary you’ll see, the film does have a powerful visual appeal enhanced by a moody classical and instrumental music selection. The film creates a feeling a being there with Martin as he prepares himself for his major swim. While he’s had extreme circumstances to overcome with his past swims, the Amazon represents a truly frightening new level of danger. The Amazon River is filled with crocodiles, perhaps and anacondas, but as deadly as these creatures are, he must also consider the insects, parasites and poisonous wildlife of a smaller scale that can prove much deadlier and more difficult to avoid.

‘Big River Man’ tells a fascinating story about a fascinating man, but the film also manages to achieve a level of cinematic suspense that is rarely seen on such a level in documentary filmmaking. This makes the movie a rare treat, as it’s both enlightening and inspirational, as well as a good story that keeps you at the edge of your seat. While the production isn’t necessarily perfect, the subject of the film makes up for any lacking production values. I recommend seeing this film in theaters if you get the chance, but if not I imagine we’ll be seeing ‘Big River Man’ on cable television before long as it combines knowledge and entertainment in a way that’s become a hot commodity for networks these days.