Big River Man 2009

Manohla Dargis, New York Times: As his attention to detail and beauty shots prove, Mr. Maringouin has a terrific eye: he brings you close to Mr. Strel, sometimes within panting distance, without forgetting the larger, lovelier world. Read more

David Fear, Time Out: A nonfiction Fitzcarraldo. Read more

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: Strel is one strange duck, and you can only wonder that Werner Herzog, with his fondness for captivating weirdos, didn't get to him first. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: An odd and irresistible documentary about Slovenian strongman Martin Strel and his quest, at 52, to be the first man to swim 5,268 kilometres of the Amazon River. Read more

Ben Walters, Time Out: If Werner Herzog had made 'Borat', the results might have been something like this documentary about the unusual athletic overachiever Martin Strel. Read more

Ella Taylor, Village Voice: The real drama lies in the sweetly twisted symbiosis between this likable, infuriating wreck of a man and his devoted son and publicist. Read more