500 Days in the Wild

500 Days in the Wild is an epic journey on so many levels...it follows Dianne Whelan, an artist in her fifties, as she navigates 24,000km hiking, biking, paddling, skiing and snowshoeing on the worlds longest trail. Filled with stunning landscapes, wildlife, adventure, humour, personal reflections and a love story, this is not your average adventure film. As a Canadian and a settler living on Indigenous land, it was particularly inspiring to watch Dianne, listening & learning and navigating her own journey of personal reconciliation while paying respects to the ancestors of this land. This beautiful film stays with you long after the credits have stopped rolling. Unlike a lot of adventure films out there that seem to be all about conquering something, this one is different...it's about connecting with the people she meets and the land she walks "with, not on". Powerful, moving and inspirational, just watch it!

This documentary movie was stupidly good, the strength of this film maker was incredible, her courage and to see our nation through her eyes was a testament to how beautiful and lucky we are to live here, but also points out how we are taking for granted her beauty. The cinematography was amazing she captured the spirit of nature every step of the way. This filmmaker captured the beauty and power of nature that even the ugly dangerous parts are beautiful. I'm looking forward to hopefully see some more of her works like these. Six years to make a film is in itself an incredible project. Yes she had help and those that help deserve kudos bravo to a magnificent artist.

I'm torn between this movie. It's a wonderful story about a woman's journey of self discovery while facing head-on the challenges of the harsh Canadian landscape. Her tenacity and courage to cross the country was truly inspiring. The film was shot and edited into a great story, that could hold the viewer across the entire length of the film. For these bits, I'd say it's worthy of a 7, however....

As an indigenous person, I have mixed feelings about settlers who lean in on indigenous spirituality to the extent she does. But specifically about the film and her journey, she claims to be doing this journey as a way to connect with the land, all while she clumsily traverses the land leaving behind a trail of garbage (multiple tents lost). How can a person who says they care for the land be so ill prepared to experience it, and to lose multiple tents? Nothing can be more colonial to the land than leaving things behind for the land to deal with, which in the case of her tents could be thousands of years.

Also, in true settler fashion, she has zero care for some of the indigenous languages, as she butchers and mispronounces many words. Listening to her pronounce the name of her canoe was like a knife in my ears every time she mentioned it. It's pronounced gwee-moo btw.

So while she tries to put a wrapper of reconciliation on her journey, her crossing the country was more akin to the original settlers: Having little regard for the land, the culture of the original inhabitants, and leaving behind a trail of destruction that will take a millennium to repair.

The film itself is an oxymoron, and for that it drops from a solid 7 to a 4. My only hope, this film doesn't inspire more people to follow in her steps.

Meskie (sorry), I don't want to sound like a hater... I'm just pointing out some of the colonial traits in this film, that even a person who appears to be sympathetic of indigenous people and culture still has. Decolonizing is not easy, and I hope she continues on that journey and learns and grows from it.

500 Days in the Wild" is a breathtakingly beautiful and deeply moving documentary that offers an intimate glimpse into a journey of self-discovery and adventure across Canada's vast and varied landscapes. The documentary captivates with its stunning cinematography, capturing the raw beauty of Canada's wilderness. Dianne's experiences, struggles, and triumphs are presented with honesty and vulnerability, making her journey relatable and inspiring to viewers. The soundtrack perfectly complements the film's progress along the way. The pacing allows the audience to fully immerse themselves in the journey and appreciate the vastness and diversity of Canada's landscapes. "500 Days in the Wild" is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys the beauty of nature, the thrill of adventure, or the journey of self-discovery.

Just not as advertised! The film is shot over 6 years, has very little actual "wilderness" (except what you can see around the filmmaker I guess), and was not done in 500 days. The Trans Canada Trail itself is merely the set piece and plays little role.

The dialogue comes off pretentious and forced. There is a very clear politics to the film, and most filmed encounters seem to be contrived to serve that. The messaging of the film is this strange fetishization of Canadian native culture, which of course comes with the demonization of all things modern (while the film maker survives exclusively by the grace of modern equipment, electronics, and vehicles).

Overall I found the film to really be nothing more than series of self indulgent cliches about nature while ignoring actual nature beyond a backdrop. Pretty disappointing.really considering what it could have been. As someone who has been to many of those areas, the focus should have been on how breathtaking Canada is.