Customer Reviews

Southbounders

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Southbounders follows a young-lady named Olivia taking time off of college, to backpack the Appalachian Trail. She is obviously going against the flow, as flashback scenes show her parents as being completely unsupportive of said hike. She goes against the flow even more, by choosing to hike south, whereas the most popular way of hiking is north. I won't reveal any of the plot twists, to save that for any future viewers.

The film excells in cinematography, acting, and story-telling. It's no wonder that this amateur/indie film was so popular at film festivals/events across the country. The film fails, I think, in not showing "enough" of the actual beauty of the historic Appalachian Trail. I read that it was filmed in Maine, New Hampshire, North Carolina/Tennessee, and Georgia. The film used flashbacks rather frequently; so, why no flashback to Olivia ("Next Step") reaching Mount Katahdin's peak, when she tells other hikers that it took her an "entire day" to reach the peak, Baxter Peak? A scene features three hikers on Mount Washington, mooning the historic cogwheel train. How many people actually associate that with Mount Washington? How many don't? The main indicator that they were actually in the White Mountains, was the severe ruggedness of the mountains. While in North Carolina/Tennessee, why no shots from Clingman's Dome, the highest peak on the entire Trail; why no shot at the site listed as one of the most popular weekend trip spots: the Nantahala Outdoor Center, where the Trail passes right by? While in Georgia, why no views from the ever-popular Neel Gap, the only place on the entire Trail where it passes through a building? Why no views atop the splendid and popular Blood Mountain, a mere 2.5-miles from Neel Gap? In essence, I don't think the movie showed enough mountain vistas.

Also, I realize that the film skipped most of the states states on the Trail (Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvannia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia). The pity with this, is that from the New York portion of the Trail, one can view New York City on a clear day; what a splendid cinematographic piece that would've been! Pennsylvannia is famous for its infamous rocks (as a friend of mine who hiked the Trail in 2002 put it, "The devil lives in the Pennsylvannia."). West Virginia has the actual headquarters for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Virginia has over 500-miles of Trail, about 1/4 of the entire Trail (causing a psychological beating for many aspiring thru-hikers). Perhaps the inclusion of all of this would've resulted in a 4+ hour movie; perhaps not. These are just my thoughts, and the result for my 3-star rating.

For the record, I am in the planning process to thru-hike, beginning early to mid-April 2007. The main reason I have "such knowledge" of the different portions of the Trail, is due to arduous research.

Also, this films in not rated. It contains some nudity, which I found to be no problem; it was quite humorous in all cases, and somewhat sick/disturbing in one sequence (but still funny). So, just a caution to prospective family viewers!

I went to college in a town along the AT. For four years I marveled at the courage and commitment of the thru-hikers. To me, they were acting on an urge that I think exists in each of us: to set out on a journey of self-discovery. But what allows one to answer that call? Do those who take the first step often find what they're looking for? This film is a poignant portrayal of a young woman who confronts her ghosts on the AT. Through her experience, the story brings to life the journey's challenges (both physical and emotional), the simple pleasures of life on the trail, and the camaraderie that exists among hikers. I would recommend this to anyone who's ever been down, or wondered about, a road less traveled.

This is a very good dramatic film - screenplay, acting, directing. But from my point of view as a (northbound) through-hiker, this is a marvelous portrayal of what life on the trail is really like. Most of the trail footage is from the 100-Mile Wilderness and Saddleback region in Maine, plus some in the White Mountains and down south. This is real trail, real shelters, and realistic portrayal of hikers. A high point for people who have done the Maine section of the trail is the chapter set in Monson Maine, where the famous Shaw's hiker hostel is the location. Although an actor plays Keith Shaw, Sr., who died in 2005, people who knew Keith will recognize him sitting on the front steps in one scene.

If you're thinking about hiking the AT, check out the books and trai documentaries, but don't neglect this authentic view of the trail. It's a sweet story, too.

-Millipede GA-ME 2003.

This is a documentary that collided with a romantic comedy. Great story, good soundtrack and one of the few movie I can watch over and over.

My husbund is fascinated with the Appalachian Trail. This movie was right up

hiS ALLEY! He loved it!! When i ordered it .. it came within days! It was in

excellent condition!

I love this movie. This is a well-done, well-acted, independent film with a very good story and a very good pace. The film brought out the wonder of the Appalachian Trail and it's spirited community and almost makes me weep every time I see it and realize I could have been out hiking for years.

Great scenery. Picture of what it's like on the trail. Love story. Something to think about after the movie.

I would have rated this a 4 but the movie glitches constantly. Over all it was a great movie with lots of wilderness and history. I was on the Appalachian trail while in North Carolina, it was a kick to see history and be able to walk that trail, if only for a short while. Well worth the watching, especially if you love nature or are a history buff.

At first glance, one might think this is a documentary. Especially after viewing the opening sequence. At least, that is what I thought. I was expecting a documentary about a thru-hike southbound on the Appalachian Trail, but was pleasantly surprised to find out this actually had a story.

Southbounders tells the tale of a fed-up 20 something who decides to attempt to find something she was missing in her life by hiking southbound from Maine to Georgia on the Appalachian Trail. The film is chock full of gorgeous vistas and shots of beautiful nature. I can really appreciate that they filmed this movie actually on the trail which was great. The soundtrack is one of the films most appealing features. This movie has a lot of heart, you can tell the filmmakers really have a love for hiking and the AT itself.

Olivia, the lead of the movie played by Amy Cale Patterson, begins the journey as a "newbie" but learns the tricks of the trade by reading the log books scattered throughout the trail and hiking with a goofball "comic relief" character named "Slackpack". She finds that she is having a strong connection with Rollin, one of the hikers leaving notes in the log book. A crush begins, she sets off to find Rollin and the rest of the film is her hiking with this mysterious man through the rest of the Appalachian Trail. We see the relationship build and ultimately fall as is the life on the mountainous trail.

The story was surprisingly good as was the acting. I would have liked to have seen more of the trail and their journey. The movie seemed to have skipped an entire season (Winter), which would have been interesting to see. I suppose the filmmakers couldn't film in those conditions.

All in all it was a surprisingly well made film. I enjoyed it and made me want to go hike the AT, so I suppose they accomplished what they set out to do.

[...]

Most of the films concerning the Appalachian Trail try to encompass all aspects of the trail at one sitting. The most neglected issue is the relationships on the trail and this film delivers brilliantly! Having hiked the trail northbound to NJ in 2006, I will say that romance on the trail is not a common occurrence. But relationships do develop and follow a life-cycle on and off the trail. Some are fast and fleeting, but others, last for a lifetime as friends or sometimes, romantic partners.

Everyone attempting to hike the entire A.T. shares a common goal and there is a sense of belonging. This film exemplifies the relationship factor of a long distance hike.