CFDBNYC Out and About

The man who saves the world is a documentary about Patrick McCollum, a journeyman who lives in the US and is prophesied by indigenous tribes that he will unite the tribes together and save the Amazon. The documentary starts off when the director Gabe Polsky goes out to find Patrick at his home in California where he’s renovating parts of his property. Gabe starts this journey because a colleague of his recommend Patrick’s story and he should do a documentary on his life. Once Gabe thinks about it and looks into interviewing Patrick is where life that Gabe gets wacky and weird at the same time. Patrick McCollum isn’t just a man with tall tales, he is according to a sacred prophecy by indigenous elders in the Amazon to unite them and save the Amazon. Before anyone can comprehend what was said the journey to understand how this came to be begins and the audience is taken on a tour between South and North America then to India. The documentary is a interesting take on world relations. Gabe challenges everything that Patrick says and bring in different individuals to fact check including indigenous people who are part of the tribes that Patrick is trying to save. Watching it is a experience that one needs a map because of the many lives Patrick have over the last 40 plus years and the film dive into some of them but of course the important ones relate to his encounters with the tribes of the Amazon. Gabe who is also wrote and produced the film created a way to understand how Patrick works very digestible however there are scenes that even following the film can be confusing.

The film seems to be presented in a way to introduce the world to Patrick but also to how tribes of the Amazon operate and communicate among themselves and the outside world. It looks good at first but as the film progress the characters become more absurd and withdrawn from the constant questions which shows the tribes as aloof. Seeing Jane Goddall in one of her final appearances on film seems to break up the weird sequences in the film due to her even kneel tone and assurances to preserving natural habitation and wildlife. While her scenes are great they are scattered and throws off the continuation of what Gabe is trying to do which to debunk everything that Patrick says. There were the film thrives when the two of them disagree on certain topics only to recognize that everything is happening according to what Patrick believes in. The film has its peaks and valleys but throughout the process there seem to be a common good among those in the film which is the Amazon and its survival. Watching the sequences of Patrick’s past was great in telling his back story the film doesn’t go in depth on his family what they think about his journey also there isn’t much mentioned on his income to maintain his lifestyle. Maybe that was the point of the film which is to keep most of Patrick’s life secret as possible but showcase what he seems as destiny in other parts.

The Man Who Saves The World is a great idea especially for a documentary rather than a biopic or narrative film because of the plot being everywhere and not focused on a central idea. However it is quite entertaining and amusing to see Western civilization trying to understand how indigenous tribes operates only to recognize that they will always be outsiders no matter their commitment is. In the end that is the goal of the film to understand what is happening even though it may be weird, absurd and possibly insane. A solid introduction for those learning about indigenous tribes and spiritual skills but for those who want a entertaining information film to get them through what’s going on in the world today.

The Man Who Saves The World is produced, written and directed by Gabe Polsky.  Featuring Patrick McCollum and Jane Goddall. Executive produced by Peter Farrelly, Danny McBride, David Gordon Green, Jody Hill and Brandon James. Distributing by Area23a Films.