The River Was previously a Guy

A Rohfilm production in colaboration with SWR and Debut Im Britten. (Worldwide sales: Rohfilm, Berlin.) Created by Benny Drechsel, Karsten Stoter, Jan Zabeil. Executive producer, Catherine Bode. Directed by Jan Zabeil. Script, Zabeil, Alexander Fehling.With: Alexander Fehling, Sariqo Sakega, Babotsa Sax'twee, Obusentswe Deamar Manyma, Nx'apa Motswai. (British dialogue)The River Was previously a Guy" fits loosely within the tradition of past solo-survival tales from "The Naked Prey" through "In to the Wild" and "127 Hrs," however with a far more detached, cerebral approach that's intriguing, otherwise for everybody. Created by lead thesp Alexander Fehling, who co-authored with first-time feature director Jan Zabeil, this arrestingly spare feature follows a German traveler whose tour of the un named South African nation turns harrowing when he manages to lose his guide. Pic is really a wild card in commercial terms but tend to certainly reward adventuresome distribs in niche play. Lengthy, quiet prologue follows the film's nameless protagonist (Fehling, "Goethe!") because he drives day and evening into an alien rural landscape, at some point apparently crashes into cattle, but without harm. Coming in a riverbank, he leaves his Vehicle and, either by arrangement or accident, employs an seniors fisherman (Sariqo Sakega) to consider him for any boat ride, though he sleeps through the majority of it. They create camping some miles away and, after they have exchanged the couple of words of British they share, the 30-ant tourist describes he's an actress. This appears absolutely meaningless to his host, who cryptically describes they are visitors "around the land of all of the creatures," susceptible to possible attack by an angry elephant or hungry other creature. Come morning, the tourist has apparently had an adequate amount of the exoticism and isolation he made an appearance to crave. However it works out that his companion has, simply and without violence, expired throughout the evening. Fighting stress in addition to natural elements that appeared a great deal simpler for that late boatsman to cope with, he searches lookalike wetlands and empty houses for just about any signs and symptoms of habitation. Narrative becomes a ghost story of sorts as Fehring's character, right now disoriented enough to locate anything logical, must lay to relaxation the spirit from the guy who died in the company, lest that unburied soul walk the land to harm family members. More similar to Gus Van Sant's "Gerry" (if less than as challenging) or a number of Herzog's fiction odysseys compared to aforementioned mainstream features, "The River Was previously a Guy" hardly exploits suspense or supernatural elements in a conventional fashion. Nor will it request us to recognize using the lead being an Everyman Fehring holds attention throughout by having an understated yet charming performance, however the character's conditions and motivations remain a closed book. Ending leaves myriad questions dangling. While individuals characteristics will doubtless frustrate the literal-minded, Zabeil, Fehring and also the skeletal crew (Jakub Bejnarowicz may be the excellent d.p.) provide others having a hypnotic cipher that casts its spell gradually, yet with no wasted moment. Contributing to the otherworldly tenor is the choice to omit any music, causing us to be pay even more focus on ambient location sounds.Camera (color, HD), Jakub Bejnarowicz editor, Florian Miosge seem, Anton Feist, Magnus Pfleuger, Uwe Bossenz seem designer, Lars Ginzel. Examined at Toronto Film Festival (Visions), Sept. 10, 2011. Running time: 83 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com