A semi experimental film that recalls Chantal Akerman's portraits of places, but here a narrative has been added on top. An unseen geologist is telling the story (writing in a diary?) of his trip to look for a place to build a canal in northern Brazil. But as he goes along he is haunted by thoughts his love waiting back home – his desire to get back to her, and his desire to flee.
We see the only super 8 films and videos he takes as he goes along, revealing landscapes, rocks, human faces and bodies. There's a gentle poetic sadness to it all that keeps a consistent, quiet, but never dull mood. Very approachable as 'experimental' films go, it captures feelings many of us have had while traveling for work – the wonderful freedom, the terrible loneliness.
Sadly, despite much looking, I've never been able to find a DVD with English subtitles. But there is a subscription site called fandor.com that does have the film for streaming with English subs.