I recently saw this on PBS and it certainly is a documentary that strikes a fundamental chord in everyone, living a life in solitude almost entirely off the land. You do need the skills and knowledge and a little backup from the outside world to pull it off and the film's subject Richard Proenneke had all three. He grew up on a farm then went into the Navy. His various occupations in the first 30 years of his working life included; carpenter, diesel mechanic, sheep rancher, cattle rancher, heavy equipment operator, salmon fisherman and fish & game service. After moving to Alaska and living there for 27 years he decided he would retire, build a cabin and live alone in the wilderness. In 1967 at the age of 51 he cut timber and prepared a site to build his cabin on. Late the next spring he returned to the site and for the next 16 months he chronicled in his journals and on 16 mm self- shot film his construction of the cabin and the changing of the seasons as he adapted to his new lifestyle. He was totally self-sufficient except for an occasional visit from his friend bush pilot Babe Alsworth to bring him beans, flour and cooking condiments to supplement his wild game, fish and berries that he harvested from the land and his own climate-limited vegetable garden. After the 16 months that is the subject of this film he did return to the lower 48 to visit relatives as he would occasionally over the next 30 years but this was his home until 1999 when at the age of 83 he could no longer keep up with the demands of such a life and returned to civilization to live out his remaining years. His journals were published in 1973 as One Man's Wilderness: An American Odyssey by his friend Sam Keith. Another set of journals were edited by another friend, John Branson, and published in 2005 as More Readings From One Man's Wilderness: The Journals of Richard L. Proenneke (1974-1980). For this film nature photographers/filmmakers Bob Swerer and his son Bob Jr. compiled and edited the 16 mm films shot by Proenneke and added some additional cinematography to enhance the narrative. There seems to be some conflicting information on who is the narrator of this film. Although it is not Richard Proenneke himself it is read from his journals and in a matter-of-fact first person tone as if it were actually Proenneke. IMDb and others credit the filmmaker Swerer as the narrator but it is probably Proennneke's nephew Ray Proenneke Jr. He is credited as additional cinematography but I think that is incorrect and he is in fact the narrator. It would account for his voice being genetically similar to his uncle and a more perfect match to the man on the screen. Since Richard Proenneke went through so much effort of filming this and setting up his shots and carting his camera around the wilderness and taking copious notes in his journals I have to wonder why he didn't tape record his voice at the same time he was doing this. Anyone will enjoy the dual simplicity and difficulty, the romanticism, naturalness and ingeniousness of the experience that this film documents. I couldn't have did it. The bush pilot would have found my animal scattered bones near the remains of my pathetic crudely built lean-to. This is a fascinating film and I would give it a 9.0 out of 10.
37 Reviews
Kept our kids spellbound too!
floyd-5228 July 2005
I found "Alone in the wilderness" sitting innocently on our library's shelves. Took it home and asked our 3 children, aged 6 to 11, to watch it with us. Afterward I asked them every question I could think of and they knew the answer! Amazing how they soaked it up.
It would be the rare person that would not be reached by this movie. To them I say, "Cheer up, The Simpsons are on soon!" I have personally experienced so much of what is covered in the movie -- working outside (on the railway) in 40 below zero weather, hand logging (with my father growing up) and exposure to raw wilderness (I grew up in British Columbia). That being said my wilderness experience is to this movie as my cycling skills are to Lance Armstrong.
Despite a lumberjack lifestyle, Dick is about the gentlest person you could imagine, leaving peaceful thoughts in the minds of the fortunate viewers.
It is a shame this movie does not appear in the top 250 movies on IMDb. Must relate to the number of votes it has received so far -- 49. So here is #50 and maybe that will get it the attention it deserves.
Enjoy it. Savor and reflect on it. The best things in life really are free (library) or next to it (the small cost of a DVD).
It would be the rare person that would not be reached by this movie. To them I say, "Cheer up, The Simpsons are on soon!" I have personally experienced so much of what is covered in the movie -- working outside (on the railway) in 40 below zero weather, hand logging (with my father growing up) and exposure to raw wilderness (I grew up in British Columbia). That being said my wilderness experience is to this movie as my cycling skills are to Lance Armstrong.
Despite a lumberjack lifestyle, Dick is about the gentlest person you could imagine, leaving peaceful thoughts in the minds of the fortunate viewers.
It is a shame this movie does not appear in the top 250 movies on IMDb. Must relate to the number of votes it has received so far -- 49. So here is #50 and maybe that will get it the attention it deserves.
Enjoy it. Savor and reflect on it. The best things in life really are free (library) or next to it (the small cost of a DVD).
Absolutely fascinating!
toucansam318 February 2005
An amazing documentary about a man (Dick Proenneke) who spent 30 years living in a tiny log cabin in the Alaskan wilderness. By the end, I felt a little envious of him. His lifestyle is so appealing in its simplicity, but because of my reliance on modern conveniences, I know I never could live like he did. I think a lot of people would feel this way after watching "Alone in the Wilderness". Dick Proenneke was an unusual person who was able to devote his life to nature and really understood what it meant to be one with it. The way he was able to befriend animals is almost like something out of a Disney movie. This is a must see for anyone who ever wanted to leave it all and put civilization behind him.
I highly recommend the companion book as well. I rarely read, and I couldn't put the book down.
I highly recommend the companion book as well. I rarely read, and I couldn't put the book down.
Simply Amazing
lack42413 March 2005
This documentary was amazing. I was really jealous of how a man can adapt to the wilderness and make everything for himself. Dick Proenneke was so skilled at crafting anything he needed. I'm used to going out to Home Depot and buying supplies and then making stuff. Dick had so much skill, talent, and patience... it just amazed me. He knew exactly what to do and had no errors. The Alaskan wilderness was so beautiful and spectacular. Dick's narrating was phenomenal too because his tone of voice just blended in beautifully. He had such great relationships with the wildlife too. It was just like if he knew what to do throughout the whole documentary. This documentary purely receives a 10/10 = A++
Either you get it or you don't
StephenRGrensky22 May 2006
This is the best example of the beneficial use of film/TV I have seen in many, many years. If you're a thoughtful person who also has wondered if you could live in harmony with Nature, then you'll LOVE this film and want to share it with everyone you know.
If you're neither, don't waste your time.
Alone in the Wilderness airs regularly on public TV stations around the country so you can check it out there if you're diligent. Also, many public libraries will have it but it will always be checked out in most locations.
If you have an interest in this topic (solitary, independent living), you MUST see this film.
If you're neither, don't waste your time.
Alone in the Wilderness airs regularly on public TV stations around the country so you can check it out there if you're diligent. Also, many public libraries will have it but it will always be checked out in most locations.
If you have an interest in this topic (solitary, independent living), you MUST see this film.
Brilliant
joelshiver2 March 2006
What a life! In 1967, at age 51, or perhaps sometime before, Proenneke decided he'd had enough of the "normal" affairs of men. We can only speculate that he must have felt that he could better fulfill whatever it is that defined what was, for him, a fulfilling life, by spending the rest of it in the wilderness.
Proenneke was a brilliant man who entered the wilderness on his own terms. He survived beautifully (where did he learn how to do all that stuff?), fulfilling his dreams, because he had two fundamental assets: the requisite skills and a remarkable intellect. He chronicled his adventure because of a depth of sensitivity and a well-placed - and warranted - self indulgence. Because this man lived, my life is richer. I beg the family to release an extended version with all of his outtakes.
Proenneke was a brilliant man who entered the wilderness on his own terms. He survived beautifully (where did he learn how to do all that stuff?), fulfilling his dreams, because he had two fundamental assets: the requisite skills and a remarkable intellect. He chronicled his adventure because of a depth of sensitivity and a well-placed - and warranted - self indulgence. Because this man lived, my life is richer. I beg the family to release an extended version with all of his outtakes.
A backpacker's Dream come true...
faxgenius26 August 2006
I have never seen in all my life someone who "walked the walk" that this man did. From the most simple basic of life's needs to the more complex ones. He takes us through the days and months in such a way that no matter what year it is currently, no matter what background you are from, You are right there with him every step of the way. It is a true testament to what living in harmony with nature is all about. I highly recommend this film to anyone who can truly appreciate living life to its fullest. Whether you are a weekend warrior or an outdoor enthusiast you will be able to appreciate the painstaking way He chronicles his daily life. It will make you reevaluate some of the things that we all take for granted in our daily lives. If we all looked at life the way he did, we would definitely be able to find the beauty in this world around us.
The Ultimate Fantasy Experience
clh-14 October 2005
At some point in our lives we all dream of leaving the world behind and getting back to something better than a life of cubicles, high-rises, nagging bosses, artificial rules of living, and just sitting around staring at our television sets. It is why stories about a single person alone in a "wild" environment strike such big chords with us. Tarzan, Robinson Crusoe, Giligan's Island, Cast Away, and the Brian books by Gary Paulsen (some of my favorites) are all in league with this film. Each time the world takes a step forward, the human species runs the risk of losing its very basic values. Losing touch with our very humanity is our fear. So we take the time to "get away from it all" extreme sports, fishing trips, camping, hunting, are all things that we have created to get back to our roots. I personally like to go backpacking and fishing. But still we long for more. So every now and then, somebody just rejects modern life, and goes out on their own and decides to live off the land. Although modern, technologically advanced people will look down their noses at these people sometimes, we also secretly envy them, we know that what they are doing is great. In Alone in the Wilderness, we see a man who did what we all want to do. Must of us won't get the chance, but in watching this, we get to live vicariously through a man who will embody for us, a dream of leaving behind our cubicles and nagging bosses. We want it so bad, that we shell out the outrageous prices for the movie on DVD from our local PBS station. We know what it is like to have that in our souls, if only in a very small quantity. I live in Washington State, there is no shortage of places to go (fortunately I live far enough into the suburbs that forests aren't too far away), so I look around and I see at least a small part of what we see in the movie, and my thoughts drift, and my mouth salivates at the dream of going out to the Olympic Peninsula, or up in the Cascades, building a cabin, and being left to my own devices. I just bough off of Amazon.com, "How to Build and Furnish a Log Cabin on a Budget". It hasn't arrived yet, but I think it will be worth the investment. Because even if I have to wait until I am in my fifties (20 now), by God, I'll build my cabin out in the wilderness.
Beautiful and Natural
wally6510 June 2006
This has got to be one of the best movies I have ever seen every time its on TV I watch it, no matter what else is on. If you'd like to see the way things should be, watch it, its also so cool to see what you can do with wood with a few simple tools, living with nature rather then in it, hunting, fishing, gardening are so natural, if i ever get the chance i'll do it just like Dick that gives me a few years to prepare, if i could turn back time i would have done this by 30 years old....
i am very at peace when watching this movie...
i am very at peace when watching this movie...
This Is Great Viewing
robinwalker13 February 2007
I've seen this movie several times and own the DVD. It's simple, authentic and moving. The prior comment (by "songwarrior52@yahoo.com") is quite strange indeed. There are simple explanations RE: the questions of authenticity, namely that part of what Dick Proenneke was doing was self-documenting his experience with his own 16mm camera, which is where all the footage comes from. What would motivate someone to take the time to write and submit such an ignorant, childish post on something as simple and straightforward as this particular documentary? God only knows. In any event, this DVD is a must-see for those who love nature, solitude, the outdoors and who admire strong work ethic; whether or not they are also latte drinking, SUV driving "normal" folk. Dick Proenneke would have appreciated his viewership one and all.
Nature Rules
spartakus4924 August 2006
Awesome film. This is truly a great man. I would love to live in the wilderness but not alone. What a great film! Dick Proenneke is the ultimate carpenter and if the bible is ever forgotten this man might become a Jesus like figure. Anybody that considers themselves a friend of the environment or a relative of mother nature should watch this movie. I do not have the balls to live of the land but Dick Proenneke left instructions on how to build a cabin to help amateurs like myself. The cabin Dick Proenneke built is still standing and is being preserved in Alaska. Brave fine sir! It is always on public broadcast stations and I am always amazed by Dick Proenneke. Dick Proenneke is one of my idols and is a brilliant man. 10/10
A camera can't follow you if you're alone.
flackjacket27 February 2015
Ah, yes... the classic PBS fund raiser film, pulled out of the attic, dusted off and hyped for far more than it is to get donations. Every pledge break, the local PBS hosts redundantly chant about how this man was "alone". They detail how this man was not only capable of making a spoon from a log, but was able to set up a camera and film his amazing skills at the same time.
And yet, there are so many shots where the camera is obviously being held and controlled by another human. It follows along side him as he walks. It zooms in. It even pans side to side. And yet the masses are convinced he was "alone". Yeah, I could see buying into the concept that he set up the camera on a tripod on the beach, hit record, then got into a canoe and paddled away. And that afterward, he'd have to paddle back, shut off the camera and dismount it for the next shot. But when you get to the scenes where the camera is following along side of him as he walks, all authenticity of being "alone" is destroyed.
Then there's the incorrect speed of the film. Some of the shots from the magical walking, panning, zooming "tripod mounted camera" are faster than real time. Common for old movie cameras when the batteries were low. Batteries... batteries in the wilderness, But why wasn't this corrected when the video was mastered? It just makes him look goofy when he walks. I could be wrong, maybe he really did walk that way... possibly from the lack of toilet paper when you're "alone" in the real, raw, hard wilderness.
Cut to another pledge break and the host will drone on about how this film appeals to so many people, because, face it, we all imagine what it would be like to just leave it all behind and go survive "alone" in the wilderness. Seems it wouldn't be too rough if you had some dude stop by in a plane all the time and drop off food, supplies, "all natural" waterproof roofing materials, plants and obviously camera batteries. So... why make hinges out of a gas can if your plane buddy could bring them for you next time he stops by with batteries? If somebody spent time and money flying supplies out to you, wouldn't they need to be paid? If so, where do you get cash in the wilderness? Maybe you could borrow it from the magical walking camera.
A few more questions... What's with the narration? Why is there always a long pause after every time he says "I"? Why is the word "I" always prolonged? How can you not be killed by that bear you spent time locking out during the many weeks when there was no cabin? Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy hinges from the airplane dude than destroy a gas can? Who brings a gas can to the "wilderness" if there's no gas powered engines?
Anyway, it's sad that PBS insists on making this film more than it is. If they'd stop trying to hype that he was actually alone, that he went above and beyond setting up all the camera shots and especially that he left it all behind, it would be more tolerable. After all, it does have one redeeming quality in that the almost mantra like speech patterns can be used to induce sleep, maybe even a coma.
And yet, there are so many shots where the camera is obviously being held and controlled by another human. It follows along side him as he walks. It zooms in. It even pans side to side. And yet the masses are convinced he was "alone". Yeah, I could see buying into the concept that he set up the camera on a tripod on the beach, hit record, then got into a canoe and paddled away. And that afterward, he'd have to paddle back, shut off the camera and dismount it for the next shot. But when you get to the scenes where the camera is following along side of him as he walks, all authenticity of being "alone" is destroyed.
Then there's the incorrect speed of the film. Some of the shots from the magical walking, panning, zooming "tripod mounted camera" are faster than real time. Common for old movie cameras when the batteries were low. Batteries... batteries in the wilderness, But why wasn't this corrected when the video was mastered? It just makes him look goofy when he walks. I could be wrong, maybe he really did walk that way... possibly from the lack of toilet paper when you're "alone" in the real, raw, hard wilderness.
Cut to another pledge break and the host will drone on about how this film appeals to so many people, because, face it, we all imagine what it would be like to just leave it all behind and go survive "alone" in the wilderness. Seems it wouldn't be too rough if you had some dude stop by in a plane all the time and drop off food, supplies, "all natural" waterproof roofing materials, plants and obviously camera batteries. So... why make hinges out of a gas can if your plane buddy could bring them for you next time he stops by with batteries? If somebody spent time and money flying supplies out to you, wouldn't they need to be paid? If so, where do you get cash in the wilderness? Maybe you could borrow it from the magical walking camera.
A few more questions... What's with the narration? Why is there always a long pause after every time he says "I"? Why is the word "I" always prolonged? How can you not be killed by that bear you spent time locking out during the many weeks when there was no cabin? Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy hinges from the airplane dude than destroy a gas can? Who brings a gas can to the "wilderness" if there's no gas powered engines?
Anyway, it's sad that PBS insists on making this film more than it is. If they'd stop trying to hype that he was actually alone, that he went above and beyond setting up all the camera shots and especially that he left it all behind, it would be more tolerable. After all, it does have one redeeming quality in that the almost mantra like speech patterns can be used to induce sleep, maybe even a coma.
A reply to the people who doubt the achievement of Richard Proenneke..
kthit3 March 2015
Some people display shocking ignorance in some of the reviews when they say that this entire documentary is not genuine, that its just a PBS fundraiser, & that since the camera was moving, the guy was clearly not alone.. Well, I cant help but laugh at their ignorance.. "Richard Proenneke made a film record of his solitary life which was later recut and made into the documentary." Pls think before u ink.. I know some people may find it boring.. But to say that this is a false documentary requires a high level of foolishness.. & To say that this is just a PBS fundraiser.. Well.. A "fundraiser" which took nearly 30 years.. WOW.. completely moronic..
Amazing story and an amazing individual
cknob-118 January 2009
I watched this documentary during a PBS fund raising drive and I was instantly pulled into this remarkable story of natural beauty, individual strength and intimidating isolation. Proeneke's homespun narration is amusingly engaging ("...it was time to go fishing...for I was fish hungry...tomorrow is Sunday...I will go someplace"). The incredible physical challenge of building a shelter virtually from scratch with hand tools forces one to think about the modern conveniences we take for granted. For example, Dick hand sawed every board for his cabin...that means each plank 5 feet in length required him to saw through 5 feet of solid wood 8-10 inches thick, a feat he modestly describes as "...15 minutes of sawing and I had myself a nice board...". I wondered throughout this film how many of the construction challenges I would not be able to surmount because of the physical stamina required in the hand work. The construction of the cabin fireplace from lake stone and sand is nothing short of remarkable keeping Dick's cabin a "balmy 40 degrees" in the dead of an Alaskan winter.
I found myself often asking why would someone want to do this? What part of modern society was so unappealing to him that he would want total isolation? Perhaps it was a combination of disgust for the rat race and Alaska's raw beauty that drew him to this remote place of natural wonder but I'm certain most of us would find the challenges he faced overwhelming regardless of the million dollar view from his cabin. A great documentary.
I found myself often asking why would someone want to do this? What part of modern society was so unappealing to him that he would want total isolation? Perhaps it was a combination of disgust for the rat race and Alaska's raw beauty that drew him to this remote place of natural wonder but I'm certain most of us would find the challenges he faced overwhelming regardless of the million dollar view from his cabin. A great documentary.
Amazing Testament to One Man's Life in the Wilderness
steveatwal23 May 2020
Even though this is only 1 hour long, it packs in so much. I was enthralled at the ingenuity, hardiness, and harmony with nature of this man. What a pleasure to watch! Highly recommended to anyone who has thought of living in the wild.
MARVELOUS and LIFE changing!
Movie-Worm1 January 2014
this was simply MARVELOUS, and I fell in love with it. Alaskan wilderness with wild animals, crystal clear lakes and etc.
This is the story of Richard Proenneke a WWI and WWII veteran and carpenter who decides to devote the rest of his life to live in wilderness of 'Twin Lakes', Alaska. he arrives to a friends lake-side cabin and starts building his new cabin before winter arrives, single-handedly and with use of on-site materials. He takes film by himself and these films become re-cut later, his carpentry skills and knowledge about wildlife are astonishing and Manly.
this guy is my HERO and I recommend this documentary to naturalists, adventure and out-door lovers and specially MANLY people.
This is the story of Richard Proenneke a WWI and WWII veteran and carpenter who decides to devote the rest of his life to live in wilderness of 'Twin Lakes', Alaska. he arrives to a friends lake-side cabin and starts building his new cabin before winter arrives, single-handedly and with use of on-site materials. He takes film by himself and these films become re-cut later, his carpentry skills and knowledge about wildlife are astonishing and Manly.
this guy is my HERO and I recommend this documentary to naturalists, adventure and out-door lovers and specially MANLY people.
Incredible
matthewajackson24 May 2021
This is a peaceful, gripping film about a man's desire to live life to the fullest in the midst of nature. I remember watching this as a kid around ten years old and being amazed. I had never really seen what it meant to be in tune with the wilderness. Growing up in a rural, but still civilized, small city I didn't realize there was a world like what Richard Proenneke displays in this film. Fourteen years later, I have joined a mountain climbing group and gone on several remote trips in the wild. I wonder if watching this movie was what sparked my interest in nature.
jon and alex
jon_lambert20041 November 2010
Warning: Spoilers
We thought that this was a pretty good movie. We were impressed that he could live 35 years on his own. His craftsmanship was amazing, and he made a lot of very nice things, Like the cabin itself and furniture. He was very resourceful. It was impressive what he was able to do at his age. After his 6 months in bed rest, He was devoted to spending his life improving his physical health. He was a very skilled carpenter. He was a very skilled outdoors man, and knew the terrain and wild life well. He was almost self sufficient in his food too, Hunting and planting a garden to keep himself full. He was a smart man, and knew where the frost lines would be to make a refrigerator to keep his food fresh.
A remarkable self-shot documentary of a remarkable man.
robfollower9 February 2021
Saw this on PBS and as it turns out I also own it on DVD after rummaging through my collection. Double super jack-pot !
It took a very creative engineer and amazing individual to build his quaint log cabin without help, power tools or modern conveniences, manufacturing kitchen tools from used gas cans and wood scraps. It was amazing to watch as he set his camera rolling, pursued the task at hand, and then re-set the camera for another activity.It's some fine Wilderness cinematography I believe shot on 8mm and possibly even 16mm .
In 1968, 52-year-old retired mechanic Dick Proenneke spent over a year on his own in the wilds of Twin Lakes, Alaska. With a camera and a tripod, he recorded his activities, fishing and building a log cabin and surviving without any modern comforts. He went back home to Iowa for a brief time and then spent the next 30 years in his cabin, alone. This film, produced for public television, presents the footage from that first year, with narration (read by producer Bob Swerer Jr.) from Proenneke's journals.
This production film is food for my overly-urbanized soul. I can turn it on and feel so much peace from the majestic landscapes, music and the narrator's soothing voice. This is an excellent story of a man who was extremely interesting because of both his capability and remarkable simplicity. Highly recommend.
It took a very creative engineer and amazing individual to build his quaint log cabin without help, power tools or modern conveniences, manufacturing kitchen tools from used gas cans and wood scraps. It was amazing to watch as he set his camera rolling, pursued the task at hand, and then re-set the camera for another activity.It's some fine Wilderness cinematography I believe shot on 8mm and possibly even 16mm .
In 1968, 52-year-old retired mechanic Dick Proenneke spent over a year on his own in the wilds of Twin Lakes, Alaska. With a camera and a tripod, he recorded his activities, fishing and building a log cabin and surviving without any modern comforts. He went back home to Iowa for a brief time and then spent the next 30 years in his cabin, alone. This film, produced for public television, presents the footage from that first year, with narration (read by producer Bob Swerer Jr.) from Proenneke's journals.
This production film is food for my overly-urbanized soul. I can turn it on and feel so much peace from the majestic landscapes, music and the narrator's soothing voice. This is an excellent story of a man who was extremely interesting because of both his capability and remarkable simplicity. Highly recommend.
One of the first real Documentaries
kvnnagel4 June 2020
Great great documentary, He was an amazing man with a grit and determination of 10 men. I watched this movie years ago and again on PBS. Fantastic All Around.. and his love for the wilderness, animals and conservation is epic..
A MUST WATCH
A MUST WATCH
Weird show for weird people
songwarrior5210 December 2006
This show has come on PBS a lot in the recent era. It's no surprise that lots of people write glowing comments about it. Mainly because it feeds into the mostly bogus desire of folks to "rough it," to "chuck it all" and move into a cabin in the wilderness. Yeah, right, as if most people really want to do that. Supposedly we're watching this Proenneke guy do everything all alone from scratchbuild a house, make his eating utensils, catch his meals, grow his garden, endure the brutal Alaskan winter, etc.except for the fact that there is a camera there watching him do it. The whole thing looks as stage-y as can be, a fact that is trumped only by Proenneke's cornball narration and completely cheesy camera-work. Was there a crew there filming him "roughing it"? Are we supposed to believe that he filmed it himself, in which case he would've had to have continually set up the camera time and again in order to set the stage for his next staged feat. Supposedly this entire thing is spontaneously filmed, but common sense tells the viewer that it's completely phony. I like to watch this show and laugh at its absurdly contrived conceit. It's supposed to make city slickers and suburbanites who own nice homes and drive SUVs and go to the mall think that their lives are humdrum and "inauthentic," when actually you wouldn't give those things up at all to do what this guy is (supposedly) doing. Gee, I wonder if Proenneke would have a cell phone up there if he were doing it these days. A very weird and oddball show which eventually has the effect of fingernails on a blackboard.
Outstanding
Blueghost12 June 2016
I'm reminded of all the times I was out in the wilderness with friends, family, and on my own when viewing this video. Like others, I first saw this (the first in a series) on Public Broadcasting, and it reminded me of all of the times I watched or encountered animals out in national and state parks.
Richard Proeneke's wood working and carpentry skills are superb, and his masonry skills and total outdoor knowledge allow him to create artifacts necessary for survival with support from the outside world.
It is a magnetic production in spite of its primitive quality. The relatively primitive 16mm footage gathered by Proeneke's Bolex camera acts as a window to look at how mankind in the 1950s looked at nature's expanse in the North American continent. It is in fact the view of the first European pioneers, Indians, and even Paleo- Native Americans. You are looking at Alaska's wilderness in the raw.
We see how Proeneke carves out his niche in Alaska after suffering an accident on the job that almost cost him his eyesight. But we are strictly focused on his experience. We don't get to see too many of his interpretations of wild life groups; i.e. flocks of birds or herds or packs of animals and so forth. He touches on certain animals, but his priority is survival, and even though he does keep track of animals for his own personal curiosity, we are not privy to those records.
I was drawn to this piece because it reminded me of all the times I was out under the stars and among the rocks, trees, grass and mountains, with a running source of fresh water splashing over rocks. It reminds one of a simpler time, and of a place where you don't have to worry about keeping up with the Joneses, nor satisfying the misses, nor impressing anyone else with anything.
What is more impressive is that Richard Proeneke, with his simple living, was not sick a single day. Fresh fish, biscuits, berries, and whatever else he could scrounge up (mostly; he did import some food supplies) served as his "fuel".
One is led to wonder what if he had been a more contemplative man. Would he had been as patient and productive, or would the tasks of survival, even with his knowledge, have overwhelmed him? One wonders.
Definitely a must watch for the outdoors man in all Americans.
Richard Proeneke's wood working and carpentry skills are superb, and his masonry skills and total outdoor knowledge allow him to create artifacts necessary for survival with support from the outside world.
It is a magnetic production in spite of its primitive quality. The relatively primitive 16mm footage gathered by Proeneke's Bolex camera acts as a window to look at how mankind in the 1950s looked at nature's expanse in the North American continent. It is in fact the view of the first European pioneers, Indians, and even Paleo- Native Americans. You are looking at Alaska's wilderness in the raw.
We see how Proeneke carves out his niche in Alaska after suffering an accident on the job that almost cost him his eyesight. But we are strictly focused on his experience. We don't get to see too many of his interpretations of wild life groups; i.e. flocks of birds or herds or packs of animals and so forth. He touches on certain animals, but his priority is survival, and even though he does keep track of animals for his own personal curiosity, we are not privy to those records.
I was drawn to this piece because it reminded me of all the times I was out under the stars and among the rocks, trees, grass and mountains, with a running source of fresh water splashing over rocks. It reminds one of a simpler time, and of a place where you don't have to worry about keeping up with the Joneses, nor satisfying the misses, nor impressing anyone else with anything.
What is more impressive is that Richard Proeneke, with his simple living, was not sick a single day. Fresh fish, biscuits, berries, and whatever else he could scrounge up (mostly; he did import some food supplies) served as his "fuel".
One is led to wonder what if he had been a more contemplative man. Would he had been as patient and productive, or would the tasks of survival, even with his knowledge, have overwhelmed him? One wonders.
Definitely a must watch for the outdoors man in all Americans.
Beautiful film
m-mischeaux201119 December 2011
If you've ever thought about giving it all up and setting off into a life in the wilderness, then this is the film you need to see. Even if it has only ever been a flight of fancy, you will love this film. You will admire a master craftsman at work. You will respect his work ethic, and his attention to detail. He is patient and diligent. Dick Proenneke takes you on an amazing journey as he carves out a new life for himself in the beautiful and unspoiled Alaska of the late 60's. I love to watch a man of skill work and I have watched this film time and time again. Each winter, when it's too cold and too snowy, and I'm not planning to go anywhere, I make a cup of cocoa, wrap up warm, and I watch Dick go to work, carving out his dream. It's amazing to watch a man build something with just what nature provides and a few hand tools. No machines, no electricity, no help. I would love to live a simple life, out away from everything, but not alone. If you admire the pioneer spirit, then you owe it to yourself to watch this man show you what it it takes to make a home with just your two hands. I don't think they make them like him anymore. If they do, I hope I find one.
Alone in the wilderness
nikodemertzis20 January 2017
This documentary always made me feel good watching it, like being next to a fireplace in the middle of January good. We go through the life of Dick Proenneke going out in the middle of the wilderness, abandoning civilization and making a life alone in the mountains. The isolation of the mountains is in full effect when we get to see Dick build his cabin and it's glorious. The narration over the shots Dick got when he was out in the wilderness are extremely enjoyable even if the shots are grainy and not shot on a 70MM set up, it is still fascinating to view.I recommend seeing this movie if you are looking for a real life artisan nature man go to work.
Ode To The Simple Life
ajheinrich5923 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
An "Ode To The Simple Life" Dick Proenneke's masterpiece reminds us all of simpler times and of gentler souls like Muir and Thoreau, who lived in harmony with the land, taking only what they needed and nothing more. Those who must have CG and action-packed hyper-bass sound effects need not apply. This movie only requires an appreciation for the skills and fortitude it takes to live life in the wild without electricity, without complexity, and yet with a modicum of civility and amenities that you "build" with your own hands. I first saw this movie on PBS and was entranced. Having grown up in the ranching/farming country of the Similkameen valley in British Columbia, Canada, I was familiar with life in the wilderness, but had never ventured much deeper into the wild than a couple days hike from my home. Dick Proenneke's adventure was on an altogether different plane; challenging, almost spiritual in his commitment to living simply and ALONE. Proenneke's film is among the first "reality" shows that is truly REAL. There are no scripted moments, no games or strategies to rid you of unwanted competition, no prize awaiting him at the end. There's just Dick and the wilderness...and it is more addicting to watch than any of the reality survival shows on tap today. When you examine the "making of" background of the movie, you realize that Dick didn't live a pure hermit life. He had a friend that would fly in supplies with his float plane when needed (once or twice a year) and his brother did come to visit from time to time. However, he was truly "alone in the wilderness" for sometimes months at a time, particularly in the dead of winter, and I came to greatly admire Dick and all those who could live that simply, alone with themselves and for that long, without going crazy. Dick Proenneke is among a handful of folk to ever achieve what most of us only dream of. His celluloid poem grants those of us who still dream that dream the opportunity and privilege of experiencing just a little of it thru the lens and poetic thoughts of this great and yet, simple man. Dick Proenneke is one of my all-time heroes. This one is a MUST SEE, for all of those who have heard that still small voice inside, calling you back to the wild and a simpler life. Oh, and bonus ... it is totally family friendly viewing.
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