Sunday 18 October 2026, 3:30 pm
Rainbow Cinemas, Northumberland Mall
Synopsis
In 1957, world renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman and spirited biologist Bristol Foster embarked on a global expedition in a Land Rover they called "The Grizzly Torque" - a journey that ignited a deep love of our planet and set in motion a powerful story of environmental activism though art and science.
Director: Alison Reid
Cast: Robert Bateman, Bristol Foster, Wade Davis, Guujaaw, David Suzuki
Writer: Alison Reid
Genre: Documentary
Language/Country: English/Canada
Run time: 1 hour 26 minutes
Awards: Mountain Culture Award (Jury Prize) at the Whistler Film Festival; Audience Choice Award for Best Canadian Documentary at the Available Light Film Festival; Audience Favourite Feature at the Victoria Film Festival; Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature at the Forest City Film Festival
Review
By Jason Gorber
Back in the late 1950s, two friends set off on an epic quest. School chums Robert Bateman and Bristol Foster clambered into their custom Land Rover, charmingly dubbed the "Grizzly Torque," and set off on a months-long journey to circumnavigate much of our planet.
Over a half century on, the two friends gather to tell tales of their 14,000+ kilometre journey, reminiscing about the remarkable sights and people they encountered, and reflecting upon a youthful jaunt that continues to captivate to this day. Alison Reid's The Art of Adventure, which has its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival, employs archive footage that Bristol shot during their trek, and features many of the works of art that Bateman painted while bumping along the treacherous roads.
The Art of Adventure not only is an exploration of the trip, but it's also the story of two remarkable individuals who made massive contributions to this country in their own ways. From Bateman's world renowned artworks to Foster's championing of the natural world, the two men are seen to have been fully engaged by this once-in-a-lifetime journey that helped fuel the rest of their lives.The story dives deep into their family situations, including the complicated relationship between Foster and his banker father who seemed aghast at the choices of his son, but soon became a vital resource to complete the journey. The multifaceted aspects of this film, beyond the spectacular footage and grand stories of the journey, sets it apart.