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Jungle Blue
Another offering from John Boyle, previewed at LIDS this year, Jungle Blue details an intrepid exploration of New Britain Island in Papua New Guinea with renowned US cave-diver Jim Bowden. The objective was to find the underwater cave system at the source of a river.
Local legend had it that the mysterious hole was haunted by spirits, and certainly there are enough setbacks along the way to make the team wonder whether there could be any truth in the tribal rumours.
The undertaking was risky for the film-makers, too, because the outcome was so uncertain. Much of the DVD is taken up with the journey to the location, though this is one of those cases where it is sufficiently interesting a trip to justify the slow-burn approach. The cave is there, but it starts at 50m. Problems multiply.
One scene that sticks in the memory is of a local child who has never seen a scuba diver before, watching in terror as John Boyle emerges from the river. A higher diving quotient would make this DVD better value but Jungle Blue is about genuinely adventurous diving and worth a look for that reason.
(£15, Sharkbay Films, www.fourthelement.com) |
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