Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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154 of 164 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heaven Is Only 4000 Miles to the North, June 15, 2005
I left Colorado's light several days ago to work in hazy Los Angeles. The drive out is always a reminder of what I am leaving, as the intimidatingly enormous 14ers (like Gray's Peak) loom over I-70 -- almost daring me to leave -- slowly disintegrate into staggered planes and red rock plateaus, in turn losing their scorched colors and fading into a clay-type desert. It is here I feel really alone.
In the motel during my night-over in Utah, I watched Alone in the Wilderness. I had missed the first few minutes, but wasn't paying attention much. What caught my eye right off the bat was the color. Films don't look like this today, they are all cartoony, over-saturated digital oilslicks. Wilderness was grainy, faded, low-contrast, and quite remarkable to watch, until I realized what was going on, really noticed what the film was about.
Here was a man, who left his job to live secluded from the (technological) world. He built a cabin without disturbing the trees directly around his plot. He eventually added a beautiful chimney, made of stones collected throughout various hikes at varying altitudes. He built snowshoes and a dog-sled (despite the lack of dogs), and a backpack that could carry anything (slab of wood for a table top, or nearly an entire caribou). At one point, he needs a wooden spoon, so -- where today we would hop in the car, drive through traffic to a store and purchase one -- he carves a wonderful spoon out of wood, polished and perfected and filmed in less than an hour.
I couldn't help but wonder if this film was a godsend; am I doing the right thing moving away from the mountains, where I am constantly outdoors in the sunshine? In California, I spend my days indoors, looking out into traffic, and usually I'm too busy to care. In the evenings, I have headaches, and easily become grumpy.
What is it we want in life? Alone in the Wilderness does not preach "leave the complex, live for simplicity." The film doesn't preach at all, in fact. The viewer simply watches this man's life, which is a far cry from "simple," by the way; it is constant work to stay warm and well-fed. The dangers of the surrounding wildlife isn't far from Mr. Proenneke's walls of comfort. In one hilarious moment, though, Mr. Proenneke turns the camera onto a wolverine that had been avoiding him, only to capture it rolling (literally sprawled out, rolling!) down a huge snowy hillside, enjoying the powdery snow and the bright sunshine.
At my young age, I must do what I feel is right for me. But that doesn't mean I can't put this disc in the player and vicariously live through a man far more brave and happy than I could ever be.
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67 of 71 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Beautiful Short Film..., September 27, 2005
I bought the DVD because when I saw this on PBS I was simply mesmerized by it's simple and calm beauty. True, the skills Dick had and the way he built tools and his cabin was very cool, but I thought the greatest part of the film was his love for nature. Even though he had to shoot and eat a Ram, he still felt bad for the old guy. The little clip of the wolverine rolling down the snowy hill was unreal. I love wolverines!!! The only part I did not like was the ending narration by the woman, who said something to the effect that his spirit will live on in the perfect notches of his logs. Wrong! It lives on in that beautiful Alaskan boreal wilderness called Twin Lakes...the moss, the spruce trees, the blueberry bushes, all the mountains and lakes, and the animals.
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33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful adventure movie, December 2, 2005
When you first see this movie you will probably think it was shot for the movie theatres but it is really just one guy with a camera documenting his adventure in the wilderness. Little did he know he did such a great job it rivals what is released today in both quality and interest.
You will also be amazed at how easy he makes it seem to live alone in the wilderness, building a cabin and surviving through very cold temperatures, and along the way documenting things such as air and water temperatures, ice depths, animal movements, etc. He also shows how he built things he needed like a spoon and sled, also how he found food and kept warm through the winter.
And the beauty of the area is astounding! No wonder he picked it for a location to live, a nice lake and mountain range, he shows the surrounding area as well, climbing to the highest peaks to film.
The only drawback here is the film is too short, apparently he filmed much more but most was lost due to deterioration of the movie reels. What is left here is a real gem, a must for anyone that loves nature. Great narration caps it off, a real treat for all.
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