Slow Train Through Africa with Griff Rhys Jones

2015
7.4| 0h30m| en
Synopsis

Griff Rhys Jones explores Africa the unhurried way, as he takes to the continent’s railways to immerse himself in the joy and sometimes the frustration of travelling through a beautiful and beguiling continent, using the most romantic method of transportation. Travelling a total of 7000 miles over five journeys, he explores fascinating landscapes, encounters unforgettable wildlife and meets extraordinary people. Stunning aerial photography combines with observational travelogue to produce a fresh portrait of Africa through Griff’s experiences on and off the train. On each epic trip across five episodes, he discovers how the railway reveals a great deal about the places he travels through. Griff uses the train to get to unexpected places in deserts and forests, villages and cities, learning stories of their past and finding out how they are used today. Griff travels th

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WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.
Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.
Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.
Helio Griff does a commendable job as amenable host sampling parts of Africa under the theme of railroads. Travel varies from riding in open ore cars in Namibia (providing his own mattress) to luxury coach to Capetown. Portions of history as well as geography are covered through the use of pleasant narration and splendid photography.Sidetrips are necessary to see various aspects of contemporary Africa yet only a fraction of the attractions are touched on. For instance in South Africa there is no mention of Vredefort Meteor Crater (worlds largest at 300 km across and two billion years old) nor Insharwalda (where the Zulu defeated the British). I would tave rather seen more of each country and less of the railway connections. It didn't include an episode of the railway through Botswana (Bulawayo to Mafikeng) perhaps account train passenger travel suspended during the filming period. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana_RailwaysIn the early 1980s (some by train) I had been through parts of Egypt, Sudan*, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South West Africa (now Namibia), South Africa and Mozambique*. It was interesting how some things had not changed. However I wondered if requisite bribes to get through borders still went on or that just wasn't shown.* yes during their civil wars