Cannibal Tours plot
"There is nothing so strange in a strange land, as the stranger who comes to visit it."
In "Cannibal Tours" tourists discuss the life of the 'natives' of the Sepik River. They sail on a luxury river cruise through the jungle of New Guinea. This documentary explores the differences and the surprising similarities that come to light when so-called 'civilized' and 'primitive' peoples come into contact. Director and Joris Ivens jury member Dennis O'Rourke says about his film that two journeys are depicted: the cruise journey that is portrayed and a journey in the metaphysical sense of the word. It attempts to find an answer to the question of how people think about 'the other'. In a dry humorous way, O'Rourke observes the 'visitors' and the 'visited', giving both parties plenty of space to comment on each other's behaviour.