NZIFF2020 #03: A fascinating portrait of an American born Scottish Baron, Ronald Reisinger, who seeks company and attention aboard cruise ships.

Beautifully filmed but I was saddened by most of it; from the people onboard, the activities they did and how crowded it all felt, but most of all from Ronalds story. 

Definitely a unique character and documentary and glad I got the chance to see it.

ξεκινά σαν κίτς αποδόμηση του πλούτου μα χωρίς να το καταλάβεις καταλήγει να είναι μια σπουδή πάνω στο αναπότρεπτο της φθοράς, του γήρατος και της συνειδητοποίησης ότι το τίποτα σε περιμένει όσα λεφτά και να έχεις κι όποιον βαρύγδουπο τίτλο και να κρατάς

This engaging doco brings us the world of the cruise ship, and it is very much a world in of itself, built for vacation and pleasure but resembling a Ballardian dystopia, with people going through the motions of being on holiday and staff exhibiting an enforced bonhomie. At the centre of this is Ronald Reisinger, an American-born Scottish baron who lives for cruise travel, meeting people and talking about himself. It's outwardly a desperately sad existence but one that is almost keeping him alive. But his drive for affirmation only reinforces the fragility of his existence. What would seem like a pastime ripe for parody ends up as a melancholic reverie of a broken man.

“Una roba divertente che non riguarderò mai più.”

«Τούτ' η γη που την πατούμε όλοι μέσα θε να μπούμε»

Δε μπα να'χεις 200 ονόματα και να δώνεις μπουρμπουάρ στρέμματα όλακερα, στο τέλος όλοι το ίδιο λούκι τραβάμε.

Rating:7.5/10

One of the most unique documentaries I have ever seen. Also, it had great cinematography, interesting story and beautiful music.

This documentary made me feel like I was watching a very aesthetically pleasing fiction movie most of the time. The colours and design of the cruiseship against the bright blue sea is a look that pictures a paradise (as the soundtrack sings in the background). But as pleasing as this sounds, if you really look al the people on this particular cruise, most of their faces show no happyness at all, but are blank of emotion.
Drost did a good job showing the shallowness of the cruise business, but also the loneliness of the king of the cruise, the Baron, was seen very clearly. This self called "interesting person" was shown in a very intimate but discreet way. He tries to take advantage of every chance he gets to talk about his titles and about his wealth. But at the same time, you see how he eats and brags away his loneliness.

Is this real?!

I’m glad cruise ships are dead now.

King of the Cruise is late stage capitalism.
Ronnie, the man of the hour, the one and only baron has shaped his identity through his wealth and “good” fortune. He repeats his stories to different audiences only to echo back the personality he created for himself, an interesting guy. The documentary exposes the shallow entertainment cruise-ships have to offer wrapped with stunning cinematographic shots.

Na papierze cudne, ale nie opuszcza mnie wrażenie, że twórcy dają swojemu bohaterowi wodzić się za nos i są zupełnie na jego łasce. Za mało wybrzmiewa samotność

This guy ate his own ego.

Such a cool lens to use to explore the universal feeling of loneliness and the desire to be liked, to be interesting, to be noticed and to be accepted by others.
The guy isn't very likeable, but if you look closer you can see aspects of yourself in him, and probably ones you wish you didn't see.

What an interesting guy.

Ik vond het een zesje. Van een documentaire verwacht ik toch wat meer inhoud... (ook van een documentaire over een man zonder inhoud).

Through Baron Ronnie, Dros portrays the same manufactured bourgeois ideals lampooned in “Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life” from a setting where everything looks like a version of the space station from “2001: A Space Odyssey” and shares Kubrick’s love of symmetry - trappings that evoke consistent observational humor while masking a deep sadness that would be sympathetic if not for the white riches behind it. That said, this ensemble of affluent melancholy is so affectingly filmed it hardly needs its “King” to center around.

These people deserve each other. Aka "Ship of Fools 2".

This deserved a rewatch. The cinematography is so great, there are so many great shots (i wonder if any of them are staged? Like that one shot where Ronnie sits alone in the back of an empty room and some staff member walks into shot vacuuming. Almost too perfect to be real?).
The story is very well told as well. First you laugh, then you realise it’s actually quite sad. And apparently this documentary didn’t even cover all of Ronnie’s stories. You should google him, there’s plenty more. What a guy.

Perfect thanksgiving movie

Impressive documentary!! Very satisfying cinematography

Is this real?!

Ja fantastische beelden cinematografieken pieken, ik wilde heel veel shots natekenen en wil zelf nu ook op een cruise maar om dezelfde reden dat ik maar de huishoudbeurs wilde; puur mensen kijken in habitats die ik haat. Maar die man is zo vervelend oh oh oh zoek een hobby gast