Tribe : Complete BBC Series 1-3 Box Set [DVD]

Is 'Tribe' one of the greatest television programmes of the past 10 years? Absolutely. And all because it manages to show real people, living real lives, with genuine unflinching insight and touching emotion. No other television programme has come close to genuinely captivating the viewer, raising serious issues - and that covers issues of family and society - in a meaningful, relevant way that does not feel 'forced' or sugar coated. 'Tribe' is, simply, brilliant.

Bruce Parry is the perfect anchor for the series. He is perfectly normal and down to earth in every way, and - of course - the fact that he constantly makes an idiot out of himself endears him to the viewer. From drinking blood, to tripping out, spewing, getting naked, breaking important hunting equipment, almost falling off a cliff, allowing reindeer to drink his urine, leaping over cows, killing cows with a spear, losing vast amounts of weight, being whipped, bitten, stung, laughed at...the guy takes it all in good spirits. He gets by on sheer determination and the fact that he just gets stuck in 100%

The fact is you can't manufacture these moments. It's edited to form a coherant form for every episode (usually based around Bruce undergoing initiation rites) but no other programme could ever (fictionally) recreate the genuine humanity on show throughout this series.

Another important aspect of this series is that it truly shows our society to be a consumer mad engine that is devouring these lands and forcing these people to adopt to our ways, when it's really not necessary. Indeed, it gives one chance to think that maybe the tribe have got it right?

That's why 'Tribe' is one the great television programmes. It's more than Bruce Parry making a fool of himself. It's much more than seeing how other people live and feeling content with what we have. It's a series that is a genuine look at humanity, at what development and society is, at what is being lost forever in the name of progress.

It's an essential purchase. It's a brilliant series.

The BBC Tribe series featuring Bruce Parry's travels and time spent with tribes in different parts of the world is just amazing - it's also humbling, touching, funny and very educational. So much so that our entire family (and this includes 15 year old girls) is watching the series with avid interest!

We love Parry's humility and respectful approach to every new tribe he encounters. How he arrives in a new location, with new language barriers, new laws and tribal customs and each time he quickly embraces it all and becomes a member of the tribe for a few weeks. How the locals warm to him and often adopt him for these brief periods. Loved it!Tribe : Complete BBC Series 1-3 Box Set [DVD]

I found this to be a fine series. Parry (a former Royal Marine instructor), in whose company we visit some of the worlds remotest tribes (in such places as Brazil, the Himalayas, Ethiopia, West Papua, Gabon and Bhutan) is an engaging and sympathetic guide.

Parry visits fifteen tribes in all, spending a month living and interacting with each community. While there, he adopts the methods and practices of his hosts, participating in their rituals and exploring aspects of their culture.

The episodes in this set are as follows:

Series 1

1 Adi (India).
2 Suri (Ethiopia).
3 Kombai (West Papua).
4 Babongo (Gabon).
5 Darhad (Mongolia).
6 Sanema (Brazil).

Series 2

7 Nyangatom (Ethiopia).
8 Hamar (Ethiopia).
9 Dassanech (Ethiopia).

Series 3

12 Matis (Brazil).
11 Nenets (Russia).
12 Anuta (Solomon Islands).
13 Akie (Tanzania).
14 Layap (Bhutan).
15 Penan (Borneo). Parry was awarded the BAFTA Cymru "Best On-Screen Presenter" award in 2008 for his work on the 'Penan' Episode. A BAFTA Cymru "Best Camera: Not Drama" award was also awarded for Gavin Searle's work in the same episode.

There is also a book to accompany the series Tribe: Adventures in a Changing World. Parry has also engaged in a number of other adventures. The following may also be of interest: Amazon [DVD] [2008], Blizzard: Race to the Pole [DVD] and Arctic with Bruce Parry [DVD] [2011].