Keep the River on Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale (2000)

Directors:

David Shapiro
Laurie Gwen Shapiro

Writers:

David Shapiro
Laurie Shapiro

Genre:

Documentary | Adventure

Plot:

A retired gay anthropologist revisits the native cultures he studied in his youth.

Plot Keywords:

Peru | Fear | New Guinea | Gay | Lover

Awards:

5 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Tobias Schneebaum	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Norman Mailer	...	Himself
Michael Nelson Rockefeller	...	Himself (archive footage)

Directed by
David Shapiro
Laurie Gwen Shapiro

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Shapiro
Laurie Shapiro

Produced by
Peter Broderick	....	executive producer
David S. Shapiro	....	producer
Laurie Shapiro	....	producer
Mark Stolaroff	....	associate producer
Lorna Thomas	....	consulting producer
Chris Vroom	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Steven Bernstein

Cinematography by
Liz Dory
Jonathan Kovel		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tom Donahue
Tula Goenka

Sound Department
Peter Levin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Evan Meszaros	....	sound recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Liz Dory	....	director of photography: additional photography (as Elizabeth Dory)

Animation Department
Rob Hammer	....	animator
Stephen Moverley	....	animator

Editorial Department
Rob Hammer	....	apprentice editor
Mary Catherine Palumbos	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Paul O'Leary	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Tiffany Bauer	....	web site designer

Thanks
John Zorn	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Lifer Films
• Next Wave Films
• Stolen Car Productions

Distributors

• IFC Films (2001) (USA)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2002) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for depiction of mature thematic material

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R

Company:

Lifer Films

Movie Connections:

Features "Charlie Rose" (1991)

An inspiring film with a deceiving title

As so many that come across this film, I was intrigued with the subtitle "A Modern Cannibal Tale." Unlike a lot of those who write their reviews angered that cannibalism is not the primary focus of the documentary, I was still enthralled. "Keep the River On Your Right" is not unlike the inspirational journeys of "The Human Experience" or even "Into the Wild." That the doc follows the man who lived these experiences decades later as he revisits the primitive locales only further underlines the profound impacts his travels had on his life and makes the contrast even more stark.

If you're a teenager expecting a snuff film, then yes, you will be disappointed. Even more so if you're inclined to turn your nose up at homosexuality or same-sex relationships. You'll be disappointed and most likely you will write your scathing review on Netflix or IMDb about how you have no interest in watching a movie about an "old gay guy." Those that are open enough to listen to Tobias Schneebaum's recollections and personal discoveries will find themselves pondering whether current society or the primitive savages are more barabaric in existence and practices. Much can be learned about ourselves if we take the opportunity to learn from those different from us. That theory proved true for Schneebaum in his travels. Give the film a chance with a corrected idea of what to expect going in and it will prove true for you as well.