简介：hisdocumentary,parttravelogue,partphilosophicalinquiry,concernsfilmmakerFrankCole'squesttoresisttheideaofdeathbyconfrontingoneoftheharshestlandscapesonearth:TheSaharaDesert.Afterpreparinghimselfphysicallyandmentally,hesetsoutfromOttawa,Canadaandbeginshisyear-long,solo-journeyacrossthedesertbycamel.Hisclaimisthathefeltcompelledtoundertakethejourneyafterwatchinghisgrandfatherdieandrealizinghehadafearofdeath.Hesetsoutwishingtoresistthisfearbyprovingthathecouldfightdeathandwin.Theideaforsuchafilmisfullofpossibilitiesthoughitfailstotakeadvantageofsucharareopportunity. Onceinthedesert,thecinematographyisbeautiful,thoughittendstobecomerepetitiveasthefilmprogresses.Thislackofevolutioninthecinematographybecomesunderstandableaswediscoverthatthefilmitselfsuffersfromalackofdevelopmentinthefilmmaker'sassumptionsaboutthelife/deathdichotomy.Asthejourneyprogresses,itbecomesevidentthatColeseemsonlytohavesetouttotesthimselfphysically.Thereneverseemstobeamomentofdoubtforhimoverhisprejudiceagainstdeath.Onemightexpectsomethingtochangeinapersonastheymakesuchanarduoustrek,butunfortunatelyColebeginstoseemonlymoreandmoreobsessedwithbeingrightabouthissomewhatillfoundedandconfusednotionsofwhatitmeanstolivewithoutdeath.Thisisperhapsnotdoingtheoverallfilmjustice,assuchajourneyisnotsomethingmostofuscouldaccomplish,and,evenundertheweightofthesequestionablepersonal-truths,thereisstillmuchtothinkaboutasheclosesinonhisgoal.Butthismakesitallthemoredisappointingthatsuchanopportunityseemstohavebeensomewhatwastedandunderdeveloped.TherearemomentsofinsightthatarerareinanyfilmbuttheyalmostalwaysseemtosufferbytheoversimplificationandrepetitionofCole'sideasoflifeanddeath.Ibelievethatifhehadreliedlessonvoice-overanalysisandallowedtheunfoldingofhislonelyjourneytospeakforitselfthattheexperiencehewishedtosharecouldhavebeenmuchmoreprofound,rifewithpossibilitiesand,intheend,everyaudiencemember'sownpersonaljourney.Havingsaidallthis,Ithinkitstillputstoshameallthereality-basedTVshowssuchasSurvivorthatattempttomakefacileentertainmentoutofresistingthecomfortsandtrappingsofthecivilizedworld.…