Stranger Than Fiction, #14: A bizarre, aimless trip

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you have a very specific interest in weird, old-school documentary fluff. If you need a narrative or, you know, a point, stay far away. This is for the people who like watching Manhattan Parade and thinking, 'this needs to be less coherent.' 🎥

The whole thing is just a string of random segments. One minute you're watching Cormorant fishing in China, the next, a guy is playing music with his feet. It’s a total whiplash.

The vibe

It feels like it was put together by someone who just found a bunch of leftover film reels in a basement. Some of the shots are actually kind of fascinating, like the beekeeper in the French Alps. But then it cuts away before you can even get settled.

The section about the water-powered engine is the real kicker. They try to sell it like it's a huge deal, but you can tell the camera crew is just as confused as I was. It’s genuinely funny in a way they probably didn't intend.

Random notes from my notebook:

• The armless musician segment goes on for way too long.
• The narrator sounds like he’s reading a grocery list while falling asleep.
• I’m still wondering how they messed up building a fort on foreign soil. Like, did they not have a map?
• The editing feels like someone sneezed on the splicing tape.

It’s nowhere near as polished as The Divorce Trap, but it has this strange, hypnotic quality. You might find yourself staring at the screen just because you're waiting for it to make sense. It never really does, though.

I caught myself looking at the clock around the halfway mark. The segments just stop and start with zero warning. It's almost brave, in a weird way, how little it cares about the viewer's comfort.

Don't look for deep meaning here. It’s just a weird artifact. If you're tired of modern movies that hold your hand, maybe this chaotic mess is exactly what you need. Or maybe you'll just be annoyed. 🤷‍♂️