The documentary is both an adventure and biography of legendary Canadian wildlife artist Robert Bateman and Bristol Foster photographer, cinematographer and environmental activist and of course their Land Rover “Grizzly Torque” (GT) that between May 1957 and November 1958 transported them on a 50,000-mile adventure travelling through 19 countries including Ghana, Congo, Uganda, Keyna, India, Nepal, Malaya and Australia.
The documentary shows how their adventure shaped their views of nature and life as told by themselves, writers, Indigenous leaders, naturalists, anthropologists and family members. A pioneering and transformative experience instrumental in shaping the trajectory of Bateman the most preeminent wildlife artist of all time and Bristol as a biologist and first director of the British Columbia Ecological Reserve Programme.
Both were young men in their late 20’s looking for adventure having virtually no idea of what they were heading into. Both were naturalists having met as young lads at a naturalist club at Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum.
Bateman recounts the voyage as a life adventure both mystical and magical with GT as a magic carpet taking them to magical lands.
Bateman developed a talent for sketching life, animals and architecture while Bristol photographed and filmed them rewarding the viewers with spectacular depictions of their adventure. And as you will watch it is a captivating adventure of a world that was emerging into the modern world including a hunting expedition with the Bambuti pygmies in the Congo.
Both men are in their 90’s now and you’ll witness how their epic odyssey shaped their passion for nature and environmental activism.
Fifty-one years later GT was located in pieces and master craftsmen restored it where it is now touring acting as inspiration for youth to show what one can do if they have a dream.
The film screens at the Vancouver International Film Festival on 5October2025 and was directed by Alison Reid.
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Documentary Rating 91/100.
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