The documentary film Passage Out of Paradise (directed by Michael Balson, written and produced by Richard Dennison for Orana Films) is about the three month Jukung race race from Indonesia to Melville Island, Australia brought to life by Bob Hobman with nine two-person international teams.
I was somewhat disappointed and felt like the film failed to document the event well.
Almost from the start, the teams experienced difficulties and dissension with Hobman and eventually voted to discontinue the actual race aspect of the passage and decided instead to sail as closely together as possible. The sailing teams resented that Hobman stayed aboard a relatively luxurious support vessel, leaving them to suffer alone aboard their jukungs and primitive beach camps with few comforts.
Along the way, the voyagers visit Komodo Island and before the crossing to Australia are attacked by a swarm of aggressive wasps, resulting in much misery. Everywhere they land in Indonesia (and later in Australia) they are delighted to find hospitable, welcoming people.
You can watch the video on Vimeo for $3 here. It was interesting to watch but my expectations were possibly a little too high.
Find all Orana Films productions here. (Here is another list with some films I can’t find anywhere). I intend to watch more of them as will report about them as I do.
In 2019, Bob Hobman and a team was preparing to cross the Timor.