Jungle (2017 film)

Jungle

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2017
Founder	Greg McLean (director), Justin Monjo (writer)
Headquarters	Australia
Products	Biographical survival drama film

Jungle is a 2017 biographical survival drama portraying the real-life 1981 expedition of Israeli explorer Yossi Ghinsberg into the Amazon rainforest. The film was directed by Greg McLean and penned by Justin Monjo. It features Daniel Radcliffe in the role of Ghinsberg, supported by performances from Alex Russell, Thomas Kretschmann, Yasmin Kassim, Joel Jackson, and Jacek Koman.

Filming occurred at Mount Tamborine on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. The movie achieved a worldwide box office total of $1.9 million.

Plot

Set in the early 1980s, Israeli adventurer Yossi Ghinsberg embarks on a journey to explore the Amazon rainforest in Bolivia. While staying at an Israeli hostel in La Paz, he encounters Swiss educator Marcus Stamm and American trekker Kevin Gale. They are approached by Karl Ruprechter, an Austrian who claims knowledge of an indigenous tribe living deep within the jungle, inviting them to join his expedition.

Intrigued by Karl’s story about the elusive Toromona tribe, Yossi persuades the initially doubtful Marcus and Kevin to accompany him. The following day, they meet Karl again, who unexpectedly offers to cover all their expedition expenses.

The group treks through the jungle to reach Asriamas village, where Karl demonstrates familiarity with the local inhabitants. After spending a day there, they push further into the wilderness. Marcus begins developing painful foot sores, which strains their dynamic.

Karl proposes to leave alone in search of help, but Kevin and Yossi oppose this plan. Instead, they agree to construct a raft to travel downstream collectively. During their river journey, Karl admits to being afraid of water and eventually departs to hunt. Subsequently, Marcus and Karl abandon the expedition and return toward civilization.

Yossi and Kevin continue navigating the river until their raft is destroyed by rapids. Yossi is swept away and left isolated without tools or survival expertise. Over two weeks, he manages to create shelter and forage for food while battling despair and hallucinations.

Kevin is found by locals near Rurrenabaque, approximately 120 miles from where Yossi was last seen. He coordinates a search effort with local authorities that ultimately locates Yossi in a weakened condition and brings him back to safety.

The film’s epilogue reveals that Karl fabricated stories about the tribe, had a record of endangering travelers, and was wanted by law enforcement. Neither Marcus nor Karl were ever seen again. The movie is dedicated to Marcus’ memory.

Cast

• Daniel Radcliffe as Yossi Ghinsberg
• Alex Russell as Kevin Gale
• Thomas Kretschmann as Karl Ruprechter
• Yasmin Kassim as Kina
• Joel Jackson as Marcus Stamm
• Jacek Koman as Moni Ghinsberg
• Lily Sullivan as Amie
• Angie Milliken as Stela Ghinsberg
• Joey Vieira as Black Jack
• Paris Moletti as Bolivian
• Luis Jose Lopez as Tico

Production

On 10 February 2016, it was announced that Daniel Radcliffe had joined the project. By 21 March 2016, both Thomas Kretschmann and Alex Russell were confirmed as cast members. The main filming period spanned from 19 March to 13 April 2016.

Release

The movie made its debut at the Melbourne International Film Festival on 3 August 2017. Umbrella Entertainment subsequently launched it in Australian cinemas on 9 November 2017.

Reception

According to the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 62% approval rating based on 55 critiques, with an average rating of 5.8/10. The consensus among critics praises Daniel Radcliffe's devoted portrayal in this true story, although the film itself does not consistently match his level of commitment. On Metacritic, it has a score of 48 out of 100 from 14 reviewers, reflecting "mixed or average reviews."

Alex McLevy from The A.V. Club awarded the film a B− grade, acknowledging Radcliffe's strong dedication and several powerful moments, while also pointing out that the movie occasionally drifts into melodramatic territory, which lessens the authentic impact of Ghinsberg’s experience. In contrast, Jonathan Barkan of Dread Central gave it a high rating of 4.5 out of 5, describing it as one of the most exhilarating and motivating films released that year.

Accolades

At the 7th AACTA Awards, Stefan Duscio earned a nomination for Best Cinematography.