Donal MacIntyre with tribe from Papua New Guinea

[Jodie]

MacIntyre: Edge of Existence Tuesday 29 May - TONIGHT
8:00pm - 9:00pm
VIDEO Plus+: 4920967
Five
1/4 - Papua New Guinea
Screening this after Donal MacIntyre's recent series in which he brought some Papua
New Guineans to England is a bit daft. We already know that the Insect tribe - while
scary-looking when daubed with war paint and brandishing spears - are delightful, gentle
people, so his attempt to inject drama into his visit to their remote village falls flat on its
face. And the faux-peril is unnecessary because learning about their lifestyle and
traditions is totally engrossing. The film shows MacIntyre as he mucks in with the
community, joining the hunt for crocodiles and wild pigs, as well as trying to fashion a
bowl from clay, and he thoroughly enjoys himself in the process (if the scene of him and
tribesman James giggling like schoolboys over a giant cockroach is anything to go by).
Perhaps there'll be real danger in the coming weeks, when MacIntyre visits other
communities who survive in inhospitable places such as the Sahara and Nicaragua.
RT reviewer - Jane Rackham

 

[tommy the cat]

I almost forgot waiting for spring watch....thanks would have been gutted missed it the first time round D

 

[Jodie]

Damn - they clash. Didn't spot that. Donal MacIntyre wins though - although I
maintain that I'm "really just watching it for the caryotas"...

 

[Galemys]

Was it any good? (I only got BBC1 & 2 so I didn't see it)

Tom

 

[mace242]

It was pretty good - I think Springwatch would have been the better choice though. I couldn't record springwatch (SHMBO was recording Eastenders ) and at the end of MacIntyre I kind of wished I'd watched SW.

Also the whole program left me kind of sad. That these peoples who have been the same for millenia are slowly becomming like us, and wanting to be, is a little depressing. It occured to me that perhaps on day there will be no people left that can remember the skills they have is sad.

 

[Jodie]

I enjoyed it though it did make me think that I've not seen many programmes
of this nature where a woman is the main presenter. They might be out there
in TV-land but I've not seen them.

Given that the women, in last night's programme, were not allowed to stand
while paddling a boat (as it was considered improper) I wondered how "Donna
MacIntyre" might have fared - ie. if the presenter had been female and had to
interact to the same extent with her hosts.

Jo

 

[bushwacker bob]

The follow up series preceeded this one.He brought 6 members of the tribe to his gaf in London village.The Chief went up in the London eye and asked where our 'spirit house' was. Mcantyre pointed out St Pauls,which was dwarfed by Banking buildings surrounding it.The Chief pointed out that our society must be in trouble if money was worshipped more than our Gods.

 

[Jodie]

Donal's in Borneo, now... with the sea gypsies.

 

[Jodie]

He's at it again - this time hanging out with a Bedouin family and their goats and camels.

 

[fredcraft]

The Chief went up in the London eye and asked where our 'spirit house' was. Mcantyre pointed out St Pauls,which was dwarfed by Banking buildings surrounding it.The Chief pointed out that our society must be in trouble if money was worshipped more than our Gods.

The fun thing is that the chief is right IMHO...

 

[Rebel]

Yes he's certainly right. Our society is in trouble and "the love of money is the root of all evil."

Sounds like he has more wisdom in his simplicity than our sophisticated society.