The filmmaker Alison Reid discusses her documentary The Art of Adventure, featuring Bristol Foster and Robert Bateman, having its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival, with Joseph Planta.

Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.  

Between 1957 and 1958, two young men, Bristol Foster and Robert Bateman, decided to go on an adventure of a lifetime. They purchased a Land Rover that they called The Grizzly Torque, and set about travelling some 14,000 kilometers through Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Foster, felt his family’s upbringing a little constraining in Toronto, while Bateman was a little restless as he started his career as a high school teacher. Both men were interested in nature and the outdoors, and as we see with the distinguished lives they led after this adventure, they’re certainly shaped by the landscape, creatures, and people they encountered. This is all the subject of a new documentary having its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival, The Art of Adventure. There’s a screening Sunday afternoon, 05 October 2025 at the Vancouver Playhouse. There are other screenings Tuesday, 07 October, and Sunday, 12 October, and probably more. Visit www.viff.org for tickets and information. The film’s director and producer Alison Reid joins me now to talk about this film, and highlighting the adventure, showcasing the vivid film and photography that both Foster and Bateman shot on the trip, as well as illustrating how this adventure influenced their later work; Foster as an academic, filmmaker, and naturalist and conservationist, and Bateman as an activist and artist of world renown. They’re the stars of the film, but so’s the Grizzly Torque itself. It goes with them on this journey, houses them throughout, and makes its way back to Canada. Alison Reid’s career in film began as a stunt performer and coordinator. She’s gone on to produce and direct the comedy The Baby Formula, and the documentary The Woman Who Loves Giraffes. She’s also directed episodes of Beyond Black Beauty, Hudson & Rex, and Murdoch Mysteries. We spoke earlier this week. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Alison Reid; Alison, good morning.

The post Alison Reid first appeared on thecommentary.ca.