The Giant Nile

This three-tape series opens with the beginning of what promises to be an exciting river expedition down the Nile by the filmmakers while voiceover narration talks about the route they will take. Somewhat surprisingly, the expeditioneers disappear completely from the film and so, for that matter, does The Giant Nile within the opening 10 minutes. The narration remains, however, as does some fascinating glimpses into the lives of the people who live alongside the mighty river's banks. Ergo, it is the people, not the river, which constitute the real focus of the series. In the opening volume, The White River, the cameras visit the Bume, Bodi, and Bursi tribes of sub-Saharan Africa, where we see the very-much-different-from-our-own concept of beauty of wearing large disks in the lip (which, of course, stretches the lip tremendously). Too, we see how the native peoples survive during times of food shortages by mixing blood drawn from the neck of a camel with milk (not an easy scene to watch, as camels make the most heartrending sounds when they are being lanced). Later on, viewers see the Toposa's, whose bodies are adorned with a series of patterned bumps and ripples from scarification. Following a colorful look at the tribal initiation dances of the Toposa's, the cameras move north to the Sudan where the Dinkas tend their zebu herds, and light "dung fires" to keep warm in the evenings. In the second volume, White Nile, Blue Nile, we meet the Nuba people who wear very striking shorts (required by law), and settle issues of adultery, witchcraft, and cattle rustling in trials by combat--violent affairs which sometimes result in death. Further on, at Khartoum, viewers get the opportunity to see a dervish whirl--an interesting combination of religious ecstasy and the funky chicken. In the final volume, Egyptian Journey, the cameras travel to Cairo, visit the great Egyptian pyramids, and look at the tradition of the Coptic Christians. Near the close of the series, as the narrator talks about Egypt's continuing religious turmoil, we see an almost surreal scene as riot police fight with a mob who are hoisting placards bearing the image of Christ. Although viewers won't learn a whole lot about the Nile river, the series does offer a fascinating look at the peoples along the way. Recommended. (Available from most distributors.)