Review of Into the Okavango (2018) by Virginia T — 14 Dec 2018

An extraordinary, magical documentary, illuminating not just of an ecosystem but of profound questions of humanity and our lost connections to the life world around us, rediscovered in one of the last true wilderness areas on the planet.

Beautifully edited with flowing yet understated pan shots, aerial and satellite photography, and quiet transitions to slow motion that gently enter realms of poetry, this film manages to weave the group's individual personalities, cultural differences, war, fires, wildlife and science together into a seamless narrative with none of the usual ponderous commentary or pandering to imagined popular thrill seeking.

And a special nod to whoever arranged the haunting score. Into the Otavango makes even other Nat Geo films look cheap.The only down side was watching this stunning film on Nat Geo Wild on the 14 December release date, which ravaged it with cruelly crass ad breaks.

I kept muttering "I'm so sorry!" thinking of the filmmajers' pain over this. Sure, NG has to make money, but ome films really do call for special treatment, and no one seems to have noticed.