500 Days in the Wild

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Faran L Disappointing and Lacking Depth For a documentary set deep in the wild, it surprisingly lacks depth. If you've been on Mount Everest, why be so unprepared? The filmmaker attempts to condense six years into one film but sacrifices substance in the process. Key details—like how she sources food—are glossed over. She bikes at times, then uses a canoe, but where did the bike go? Where did the canoe go? And then they reappear with no explanation. Clichés like "Don't walk on the earth, walk with the earth" feel hollow rather than profound. Worse, she abandons four plastic tents in the wilderness simply because she wasn’t prepared for the Canadian weather—despite being Canadian! The film rushes through its journey without real introspection, making it feel more like a scattered montage than a meaningful exploration. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 04/02/25 Full Review Joan G A beautifully crafted journey with the sea and land that normalizes minimalism and the deep awareness and joy that comes from our interconnectedness. Women over 50 rock! Inspiring. Photography is stunning! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/11/24 Full Review Mary H December 1, 2023, the film maker invited myself, Dave Charleson (Hesquiaht) along other indigenous elders involved in the making of her film to the premiere of 500 days in the Wild at the Whistler Film Festival. There was tremendous love from the Whistler Film Festival audience for Dianne Whalen’s incredibly beautiful and epic documentary. Such love that her film won first prize for the Audience Choice Award. 500 Days in the Wild tells a much needed story of how to be authentically out on the land. As an audience member, I revel in its seamlessly edited aerial drone and camera footage covering 24,000 klms of a spectacular journey along Canada’s TransCanada trail. Foremost was the story of Diane Whelan’s path to find truth and reconciliation with the many indigenous people of this huge country. Hers is a story told with humour, honesty and insight as she traverses waterways, great lakes, forests and mountain trails. 500 Days in the Wild touches even the most jaded of hearts because it is a truthful tale about the richness of the people living with the land out in the great beyond, a gorgeous tribute. Dianne Whalen is a total rock star of an ally to indigenous people and an expert steward of the land. This intrepid traveler is a low impact camper, packing out what ever she packed in. There is a scene in 500 days in the Wild where one of her tents blows into the woods. The tent was retrieved, off camera by a couple of friends of the filmmaker, and not left as litter as one earlier IMBD reviewer claimed. The attention to and respect for the natural world is one of the things that impressed Dave Charleson about 500 Days in the Wild when he first saw the film, “No pollution. The scenes of rivers, lakes, big stretches of land left the way it was. I loved seeing scenes of this vast great land in its natural state – like it was before contact with Europeans – what the film documents of Dianne’s trek along the trail is incredibly natural. I’m also impressed that Dianne’s film portrays the many indigenous people who live out across the land.” It is the hope of Dave Charleson and many of the indigenous elders involved with Dianne Whalen’s documentary that 500 Days in the Wild will be nominated for an Oscar. Her work out on the TransCanada trail deserves worldwide attention. Hers a hopeful and inspiring story that stands out in dramatic contrast to counter stories we are bombarded with in the dominant media; stories that reinforce divisions between communities, fuel discord between indigenous and European settler populations and portray an extreme nihilistic view of the world. Dave Charleson whose family is the speaker clan in the Hesquiaht community and whose mother was a direct descendant of Chief Maquinna who greeted Captain James Cook at Yuquot (Friendly Cove) in 1778 says it’s the best film he’s seen about reconciliation and moving with indigenous ways across the land. “The government of Canada could learn a few things from Dianne Whalen’s film about how to do Truth and Reconciliation,” Dave says. The Hesquiaht elder who provided me permission to record his thoughts on Dianne Whalen’s film here and on other sites has long maintained “there will be no truth or reconciliation as long as non indigenous Canadians in every part of Canada continue to be ignorant of the culture and people of the traditional territories in which they currently live, work and play. And as long as parents teach their children to be racist”. Dave Charleson’s feedback after the premiere was that the film is the best remedy for what is standing in the way of Truth and Reconciliation. Dave added one additional note: “When I saw Dene hunters in their speed boat come alongside by Dianne’s canoe and pass her a chunk of fresh deer meat it choked me up, because our people, the indigenous people from all parts of Canada have always shared our land, resources and food with the settlers. That scene is what Thanksgiving is originally all about and it is that indigenous genius and generosity that Dianne Whalen’s film documents again and again.”   Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/04/24 Full Review Dawn B This documentary took me off guard with the emotions I felt. I didn’t expect to be as moved as I was. Loved it! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/30/24 Full Review Samantha A I saw this documentary twice. The second filming Dianne Whelan was there to answer questions. She's a fantastic artist and I am in awe of her bravery and the way she captured the energy and spirit on the film. I shook her hand tonight. I thanked her for being a female hero to so many people! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/30/24 Full Review Jennie E I loved this movie! It was beautiful to watch and extremely inspiring!! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/26/24 Full Review Read all reviews

500 Days in the Wild

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