ACROSS The Sahara is a feature-length travel documentary produced by The British Backpacker Society, a leading international adventure travel project.

This local society was founded by three former Highcliffe School students – Samuel Joynson, 26, Adam Sloper, 25, and Michael L Worrall, 25, all of whom still have strong connections to the local area and feature in this thrilling movie.

The British Backpacker Society was established to promote extraordinary travel opportunities by unique video documentaries – which this amazing film certainly is.

The compelling journey takes the audience through exotic Morocco, the blistering Sahara desert, Mauritania, Senegal, using a variety of transport from crude freight trains, endless 23-hour bumpy bus journeys, and terrifying minefield-crossing taxis.

Filmed on mobile phones, with actors speaking directly to camera, there is a wonderful atmosphere of danger, fear, and scary fascination, with some delicious quotes: “It’s a bit toastie!” (in 40 degrees heat), “Who needs sleep?”(after endless days of uncomfortable bumping), and “This is a special place”.

Although there is a fascinating spoken intro by the endearing film-makers, unfortunately there was no Q & A at the end, although the movie producers invited the audience to join them afterwards in the local pub!

The altruistic British Backpacker Society pledge that all worldwide film proceeds will be donated to UNICEF, for their charity work in the Sahara.

This utterly inspirational film will surely lead to bigger and better adventures – watch this space!

Brendan McCusker