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{{Short description|Documentary by Ron Lamothe}}
{{Other uses|Call of the Wild (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = Call of the Wild | name = Call of the Wild
| image = The Call of the Wild DVD cover.jpg | image = The Call of the Wild DVD cover.jpg
| border =
| alt = | alt =
| caption = DVD cover | caption = DVD cover
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| story = | story =
| narrator = | narrator =
| starring = | starring = Thomas Clausen<br>Will Forsberg<br>Leonard Knight
| music = Mark Zaki | music = Mark Zaki
| cinematography = | cinematography =
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| gross = | gross =
}} }}
'''''The Call of the Wild''''' is a 2007 ] by the independent filmmaker ]. The premise details the odyssey of ] as Lamothe takes a road trip across ] to the places McCandless visited.<ref name="San Francisco Chronicle"/> Within the film, Lamothe reaches conclusions about McCandless' death which contradict both ]'s film '']'' (2007) and ]'s book '']'' (1997), on which Penn's film was based.<ref name=Allmovie>{{cite web|last=Southern|first=Nathan|title=The Call of the Wild (2007)|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-call-of-the-wild-v422332/|publisher=]|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Denver Film Society"/> '''''The Call of the Wild''''' is a 2007 ] by the independent filmmaker ]. The premise details the odyssey of ] as Lamothe takes a road trip across ] to the places McCandless visited.<ref name="San Francisco Chronicle"/> Within the film, Lamothe reaches conclusions about McCandless' death which contradict both ]'s film '']'' (2007) and ]'s book '']'' (1996), on which Penn's film was based.<ref name=Allmovie>{{cite web|last=Southern|first=Nathan|title=The Call of the Wild (2007)|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-call-of-the-wild-v422332/|publisher=]|accessdate=August 17, 2013|archive-date=September 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906154136/https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-call-of-the-wild-v422332|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Denver Film Society"/>


== Content == == Content ==
In 2006, Ron Lamothe, decided to make a ] documentary on Christopher McCandless. Lamothe was inspired by McCandless' story even before the book ''Into the Wild'' (1997) was published, as both he and McCandless were born in 1968 and graduated from college in 1990. They also shared the same roommate at one time in their lives, and Lamothe took a life-changing trip to ] during the same time as McCandless' travels. In 2006, Ron Lamothe, decided to make a ] documentary on Christopher McCandless. Lamothe was inspired by McCandless' story even before the book ''Into the Wild'' (1996) was published, as both he and McCandless were born in 1968 and graduated from college in 1990. They also shared the same roommate at one time in their lives, and Lamothe took a life-changing trip to ] during the same time as McCandless' travels.


After a brief swim in ], Lamothe begins his journey to ], where McCandless grew up and went to high school. Lamothe then journeys to ] in ], where McCandless graduated in May 1990, and attends the 2006 graduation ceremony. Also attending the ceremony is filmmaker ], who coincidentally was then filming a ] about McCandless. Lamothe interviews a few graduates on their plans after college in hopes of finding a "McCandless" in the crowd while comparing the graduates to the free-spirited ]. After a brief swim in ], Lamothe begins his journey to ], where McCandless grew up and went to high school. Lamothe then journeys to ] in ], where McCandless graduated in May 1990, and attends the 2006 graduation ceremony. Also attending the ceremony is filmmaker ], who coincidentally was then filming a ] about McCandless. Lamothe interviews a few graduates on their plans after college in hopes of finding a "McCandless" in the crowd while comparing the graduates to the free-spirited ].

⚫ Lamothe then ventures to ] and visits ], where McCandless had stayed during the ] in 1991. Lamothe tours ] and interviews Leonard Knight, who built the site and claims to have met McCandless during McCandless' stay.


On June 3, Lamothe and a friend travel to ] and discuss the casting choice of ] as McCandless in the upcoming film. They incidentally pass through Penn's production as he sees two yellow ] props, the same car McCandless drove and later lost during a ]. Lamothe has the entire Lake Mead to himself without being bothered by Penn's crew, who chose to film in a different location. On June 3, Lamothe and a friend travel to ] and discuss the casting choice of ] as McCandless in the upcoming film. They incidentally pass through Penn's production as he sees two yellow ] props, the same car McCandless drove and later lost during a ]. Lamothe has the entire Lake Mead to himself without being bothered by Penn's crew, who chose to film in a different location.

⚫ Lamothe then ventures to ] and visits ], where McCandless had stayed during the ] in 1991. Lamothe tours ] and interviews Leonard Knight, who built the site and claims to have met McCandless during McCandless' stay.


Lamothe then decides to visit ], where McCandless took on a job working at a ] in September 1990 and in April 1992. Like McCandless, Lamothe travels to Carthage solely by ]. Lamothe travels through ] with an ex-drug dealer—who used to live in ]-and along ] through ] to ] with a group of young adults who enjoy collecting mushrooms alongside the road. After days of hitchhiking, Lamothe finally makes it to Carthage but learns that no one in the town will take interviews for his documentary, since they are under contract by ] for Penn's film. However, Lamothe does get to interview the truck driver who gave McCandless a ride from Carthage to ], as his life story was not owned by Paramount. Lamothe then decides to visit ], where McCandless took on a job working at a ] in September 1990 and in April 1992. Like McCandless, Lamothe travels to Carthage solely by ]. Lamothe travels through ] with an ex-drug dealer—who used to live in ]-and along ] through ] to ] with a group of young adults who enjoy collecting mushrooms alongside the road. After days of hitchhiking, Lamothe finally makes it to Carthage but learns that no one in the town will take interviews for his documentary, since they are under contract by ] for Penn's film. However, Lamothe does get to interview the truck driver who gave McCandless a ride from Carthage to ], as his life story was not owned by Paramount.


After departing Carthage, Lamothe travels through ] but this time as the driver. He agrees to pick up any hitchhiker he sees but unfortunately doesn't find any along the way. After departing Carthage, Lamothe travels through ] but this time as the driver. He agrees to pick up any hitchhiker he sees but unfortunately doesn't find any along the way.


Finally, Lamothe arrives in ], where he interviews a few locals at a bar who only have criticisms about McCandless. Lamothe sets out on the ] on foot, but when he tries to cross the ], his camera becomes damaged, leading him to think his film is ruined. However, unknown to Lamothe, his camera is fine as he attempts to film as much of Bus 142 (where McCandless died in August 1992) as possible. After a few nights at the bus, Lamothe travels back home to Massachusetts and returns to his normal life.<ref name=Allmovie/> Finally, Lamothe arrives in ], where he interviews a few locals at a bar who only have criticisms about McCandless. Lamothe sets out on the ] on foot, but when he tries to cross the ], his camera becomes damaged, leading him to think his film is ruined. However, unknown to Lamothe, his camera is fine as he attempts to film as much of ] (where McCandless died in August 1992) as possible. After a few nights at the bus, Lamothe travels back home to Massachusetts and returns to his normal life.<ref name=Allmovie/>


=== New findings === === New findings ===
Lamothe documents several later findings that contradict Krakauer's book and Penn's film. He reports that McCandless was not poisoned by wild potato seeds as Krakauer had suspected, and that such poisoning had been disproved by toxicology reports. However, later findings reported by Krakauer and Anchorage reporter Craig Medred<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adn.com/books/article/fiction-jon-krakauers-wild/2015/01/10/|title=The fiction that is Jon Krakauer's 'Into The Wild'|date=10 January 2015|website=Anchorage Daily News}}</ref> may supersede those earlier reports.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/how-chris-mccandless-died|title=How Chris McCandless Died|first=Jon|last=Krakauer|date=12 September 2013|publisher=|via=www.newyorker.com}}</ref> Penn's film depicted McCandless being poisoned by wild foods he mistakenly had eaten.<ref name="San Francisco Chronicle"/> Lamothe documents several later findings that contradict Krakauer's book and Penn's film. He reports that McCandless was not poisoned by wild potato seeds as Krakauer had suspected, as the toxicologist hired by Krakauer did not find any poisonous effects of the seeds. He concludes that McCandless was simply unable to forage enough food to feed himself and died of starvation.

However, in March 2015 Krakauer co-authored a scientific analysis of the ''Hedysarum alpinum'' seeds McCandless ate. The report found relatively high levels of L-] (an ] toxic to mammals) in the ''H. alpinum'' seeds and concluded "it is highly likely that the consumption of H. alpinum seeds contributed to the death of Chris McCandless."<ref>Krakauer, J., et al. (2015). "Presence of l-canavanine in Hedysarum alpinum seeds and its potential role in the death of Chris McCandless." Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. {{doi|10.1016/j.wem.2014.08.014}}</ref>


Lamothe also reveals that McCandless did not destroy his driver's license or ], nor did he burn all his cash as depicted in the book and film. In a hidden pocket on McCandless' backpack was found his wallet with all forms of ] and ]300 in cash.<ref name="San Francisco Chronicle"/> Lamothe also reveals that McCandless' driver's license, social security card and ]300 in cash were retrieved from a hidden pocket in McCandless' backpack, suggesting that McCandless intended to return from seclusion.<ref name="San Francisco Chronicle"/>


Lamothe further suspects that McCandless had an arm or shoulder injury not shown in the famous self-portrait photo by the bus, in which McCandless' shirt sleeve has the appearance of being empty. Lamothe believes, based on McCandless' S.O.S. note, that McCandless had injured his arm or ], and thus could not have swum across the ] to escape.<ref name=Allmovie/> Lamothe further suspects that McCandless had an arm or shoulder injury not shown in the famous self-portrait photo by the bus, in which McCandless' shirt sleeve has the appearance of being empty. Lamothe believes, based on McCandless' S.O.S. note, that McCandless had injured his arm or ], and thus could not have swum across the ] to escape.<ref name=Allmovie/>


==Reception== ==Reception==
The film screened October 8 and 9, 2007 as part of the San Francisco Documentary Film Festival,<ref name="San Francisco Chronicle">{{cite news|last=Harmanci|first=Reyhan|title=Movie: 'Call of the Wild'|url=http://www.sfgate.com/thingstodo/article/Movie-Call-of-the-Wild-2520681.php|accessdate=August 17, 2013|newspaper=]|date=September 26, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Film Lounge"/> and the ] hosted the ] premiere of the film December 10, 2007.<ref name="University of Alaska">{{cite news|last=Cole|first=Terrence|title=Event, film offers alternate view on McCandless story|url=http://uafcornerstone.net/news/a_news/20071206130716.html|accessdate=August 17, 2013|newspaper=]|date=December 6, 2007}}</ref> The film screened October 8 and 9, 2007 as part of the San Francisco Documentary Film Festival,<ref name="San Francisco Chronicle">{{cite news|last=Harmanci|first=Reyhan|title=Movie: 'Call of the Wild'|url=http://www.sfgate.com/thingstodo/article/Movie-Call-of-the-Wild-2520681.php|accessdate=August 17, 2013|newspaper=]|date=September 26, 2007|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516163002/https://www.sfgate.com/thingstodo/article/Movie-Call-of-the-Wild-2520681.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Film Lounge"/> and the ] hosted the ] premiere of the film December 10, 2007.<ref name="University of Alaska">{{cite news|last=Cole|first=Terrence|title=Event, film offers alternate view on McCandless story|url=http://uafcornerstone.net/news/a_news/20071206130716.html|accessdate=August 17, 2013|newspaper=]|date=December 6, 2007|archive-date=July 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728163640/http://uafcornerstone.net/news/a_news/20071206130716.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


The ] offered that the film mounted "a thoughtful challenge to Jon Krakauer's ''Into the Wild'' (and actor-director Sean Penn's screen adaptation thereof), ''The Call of the Wild'' presents an alternative to the popular account of Chris McCandless, the self-styled 'aesthetic voyager' who died alone in the Alaskan wilderness in 1992 at age 24." They further noted Lamothe's, while filming, having several "run-ins" with Penn who was, in the same time-frame and locations, himself involved in the making of a production about McCandless, and made note of how Penn's production had "the clout to thwart Lamothe at many a turn." They concluded: "ultimately, however, what lies at the film's core is Lamothe's own journey of discovery. The conceit allows him to explore the concept of wilderness and its influence on the American psyche, as well as its reflection on our cultural landscape; the generation gap as measured by changing rites of passage; and the disparity between independent and Hollywood filmmaking."<ref name="Denver Film Society">{{cite web|last=staff|title=The Call Of The Wild|url=http://www.denverfilm.org/filmcenter/detail.aspx?id=21455|publisher=]|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> The ] offered that the film mounted "a thoughtful challenge to Jon Krakauer's ''Into the Wild'' (and actor-director Sean Penn's screen adaptation thereof), ''The Call of the Wild'' presents an alternative to the popular account of Chris McCandless, the self-styled 'aesthetic voyager' who died alone in the Alaskan wilderness in 1992 at age 24." They further noted Lamothe's, while filming, having several "run-ins" with Penn who was, in the same time-frame and locations, himself involved in the making of a production about McCandless, and made note of how Penn's production had "the clout to thwart Lamothe at many a turn." They concluded: "ultimately, however, what lies at the film's core is Lamothe's own journey of discovery. The conceit allows him to explore the concept of wilderness and its influence on the American psyche, as well as its reflection on our cultural landscape; the generation gap as measured by changing rites of passage; and the disparity between independent and Hollywood filmmaking."<ref name="Denver Film Society">{{cite web|last=staff|title=The Call Of The Wild|url=http://www.denverfilm.org/filmcenter/detail.aspx?id=21455|publisher=]|accessdate=August 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725232611/http://www.denverfilm.org/filmcenter/detail.aspx?id=21455|archive-date=July 25, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>


] ] Neil Young wrote that the film was a "disarmingly fresh, utterly engrossing documentary" in how it addressed "specific details of McCandless's controversial life (and even more controversial demise)" by director Ron Lamothe covering "a surprisingly expansive amount of geographic and thematic terrain as he journeys cross-county – driving, then hitchhiking – in McCandless's footsteps." In watching the production, Young offered "the film becomes not so much about McCandless or Lamothe (though it's certainly to some degree a portrait of both) but a more general rumination on the ambitions and limitations of the generation to which both belonged (the picture is part-dedicated to 'Generation X') and also a celebration of rural America's more eccentric backwaters."<ref name="Film Lounge">{{cite news|title=DVD review: Call of the Wild |url=http://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/film/reviews/december-roundup-1-the-call-of-the-wild-plus-briefer-comments-on-cthulhu-hohokam-etc/ |accessdate=August 17, 2013 |newspaper=] |date=July 12, 2007}}</ref> ] ] Neil Young wrote that the film was a "disarmingly fresh, utterly engrossing documentary" in how it addressed "specific details of McCandless's controversial life (and even more controversial demise)" by director Ron Lamothe covering "a surprisingly expansive amount of geographic and thematic terrain as he journeys cross-county – driving, then hitchhiking – in McCandless's footsteps." In watching the production, Young offered "the film becomes not so much about McCandless or Lamothe (though it's certainly to some degree a portrait of both) but a more general rumination on the ambitions and limitations of the generation to which both belonged (the picture is part-dedicated to 'Generation X') and also a celebration of rural America's more eccentric backwaters."<ref name="Film Lounge">{{cite news |title=DVD review: Call of the Wild |url=http://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/film/reviews/december-roundup-1-the-call-of-the-wild-plus-briefer-comments-on-cthulhu-hohokam-etc/ |accessdate=August 17, 2013 |newspaper=] |date=July 12, 2007 |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807193349/http://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/film/reviews/december-roundup-1-the-call-of-the-wild-plus-briefer-comments-on-cthulhu-hohokam-etc/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


'']'' compares the different media depicting McCandless' journey and death. They note Sean Penn's version makes McCandless into a societal hero who burns his identity and money in a personal quest to exile himself from the material demands and obligations of modern society. The feel that although slightly different, the depictions by Krakauer and Lamothe were more down-to-Earth, and note that while Krakauer's version has McCandless divest himself of all identification, Lamothe's version attempted to be more accurate in its revealing that McCandless' wallet was discovered inside the wreckage of the bus, and that it contained his social security card, birth certificate, driver's licence, health card, map, and even library card, as well as $300 cash.<ref name=Suite101>{{cite news|last=Alexandre|first=Ayza P |language=French|title="Into the Wild": la vérité sur l'aventure de McCandless|url=http://suite101.fr//article/into-the-wild-la-verite-sur-laventure-de-mccandless-a21984|accessdate=August 17, 2013|newspaper=]|date=December 6, 2010}}</ref> '']'' compares the different media depicting McCandless' journey and death. They note Sean Penn's version makes McCandless into a societal hero who burns his identity and money in a personal quest to exile himself from the material demands and obligations of modern society. They feel that although slightly different, the depictions by Krakauer and Lamothe were more down-to-Earth, and note that while Krakauer's version has McCandless divest himself of all identification, Lamothe's version attempted to be more accurate in its revealing that McCandless' wallet was discovered inside the wreckage of the bus, and that it contained his social security card, birth certificate, driver's licence, health card, map, and even library card, as well as $300 cash.<ref name=Suite101>{{cite news|last=Alexandre|first=Ayza P|language=French|title="Into the Wild": la vérité sur l'aventure de McCandless|url=http://suite101.fr//article/into-the-wild-la-verite-sur-laventure-de-mccandless-a21984|accessdate=August 17, 2013|newspaper=]|date=December 6, 2010|archive-date=August 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813022430/http://suite101.fr/article/into-the-wild-la-verite-sur-laventure-de-mccandless-a21984|url-status=live}}</ref>


'']'' wrote that release of the Krakauer book and the Penn and Lamothe films "cemented the mystique of Christopher McCandless" and there has been an increase of visitors coming to Alaska to retrace his steps. They also reported that 25 miles east of the site of the wrecked bus, residents of the ], feared the influx of unprepared visitors "making dangerous pilgrimages for a character portrayed as a spiritual visionary rather than an ill-prepared misfit, as many Alaskans view McCandless." While the wrecked 1940s-era ] bus had been used for decades as a shelter by hunters, hikers, and other backwoods travelers, there is an area-wide worry about the safety of unprepared visitors "who are determined to make it to the bus no matter what." <ref name="Juneau Empire">{{cite news |last=D'Oro |first=Rachel |title='Into the Wild' pilgrimages increase |url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/063008/sta_297709091.shtml |accessdate=August 17, 2013 |newspaper=] |date=June 30, 2008}}</ref><ref name="The Washington Times">{{cite news|last=staff|title=‘Into the Wild’ tours on rise|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/01/into-the-wild-tours-on-rise/|date=July 1, 2008|publisher=]|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> '']'' wrote that release of the Krakauer book and the Penn and Lamothe films "cemented the mystique of Christopher McCandless" and there has been an increase of visitors coming to Alaska to retrace his steps. They also reported that 25 miles east of the site of the wrecked bus, residents of ], feared the influx of unprepared visitors "making dangerous pilgrimages for a character portrayed as a spiritual visionary rather than an ill-prepared misfit, as many Alaskans view McCandless." While the wrecked 1940s-era ] bus had been used for decades as a shelter by hunters, hikers, and other backwoods travelers, there is an area-wide worry about the safety of unprepared visitors "who are determined to make it to the bus no matter what."<ref name="Juneau Empire">{{cite news |last=D'Oro |first=Rachel |title='Into the Wild' pilgrimages increase |url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/063008/sta_297709091.shtml |accessdate=August 17, 2013 |newspaper=] |date=June 30, 2008}}</ref><ref name="The Washington Times">{{cite news|last=staff|title='Into the Wild' tours on rise|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/01/into-the-wild-tours-on-rise/|date=July 1, 2008|publisher=]|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>


'']'' wrote that while the film's first half appears to be more about Ron Lamothe and less about Christopher McCandless, the "documentary gets good at the end and there are some interesting theories and revelations (the popular theory that McCandless died from poison seeds/berries is refuted)", and the film could have used better editing. They also felt that the amount of time Lamothe spent documenting the people who picked him up while he hitchhiked in a manner emulating McCandless', was "a use of screen time that seems beyond self-indulgent."<ref name="SFist">{{cite news|last=staff|title=DocFest: Call Of The Wild|url=http://sfist.com/2007/10/03/docfest_call_of.php|accessdate=August 17, 2013|newspaper=]|date=October 3, 2007|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214052240/http://sfist.com/2007/10/03/docfest_call_of.php|archivedate=February 14, 2012|df=}}</ref> '']'' wrote that while the film's first half appears to be more about Ron Lamothe and less about Christopher McCandless, the "documentary gets good at the end and there are some interesting theories and revelations (the popular theory that McCandless died from poison seeds/berries is refuted)", and the film could have used better editing. They also felt that the amount of time Lamothe spent documenting the people who picked him up while he hitchhiked in a manner emulating McCandless', was "a use of screen time that seems beyond self-indulgent."<ref name="SFist">{{cite news|last=staff|title=DocFest: Call Of The Wild|url=http://sfist.com/2007/10/03/docfest_call_of.php|accessdate=August 17, 2013|newspaper=]|date=October 3, 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214052240/http://sfist.com/2007/10/03/docfest_call_of.php|archivedate=February 14, 2012}}</ref>


'']'' made note that, through the following of Christopher McCandless' footsteps, Ron Lamothe's film "uncovers never-before-seen evidence that sheds new light on the case, and the mystery surrounding his death", directly contradicting Jon Krakauer's interpretations in the book ''Into the Wild'' and those made in Sean Penn's film adaption of Krakauer's book.<ref name="Kentucky Educational Television">{{cite news|last=Soileau|first=Ellen|title=Documentary traces voyager’s journey, tragic end Uncovers real story behind Into the Wild|url=http://www.ket.org/pressroom/2009/23/cawi__.html|accessdate=August 17, 2013|newspaper=]|date=May 22, 2009|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608135512/http://www.ket.org/pressroom/2009/23/cawi__.html|archivedate=June 8, 2009|df=}}</ref> '']'' made note that, through the following of Christopher McCandless' footsteps, Ron Lamothe's film "uncovers never-before-seen evidence that sheds new light on the case, and the mystery surrounding his death", directly contradicting Jon Krakauer's interpretations in the book ''Into the Wild'' and those made in Sean Penn's film adaption of Krakauer's book.<ref name="Kentucky Educational Television">{{cite news|last=Soileau|first=Ellen|title=Documentary traces voyager's journey, tragic end Uncovers real story behind Into the Wild|url=http://www.ket.org/pressroom/2009/23/cawi__.html|accessdate=August 17, 2013|newspaper=]|date=May 22, 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608135512/http://www.ket.org/pressroom/2009/23/cawi__.html|archivedate=June 8, 2009}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
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Latest revision as of 08:43, 27 December 2024

Documentary by Ron Lamothe For other uses, see Call of the Wild (disambiguation).
Call of the Wild
DVD cover
Directed byRon Lamothe
Written byRon Lamothe
Produced byRon Lamothe
StarringThomas Clausen
Will Forsberg
Leonard Knight
Music byMark Zaki
Production
company		Terra Incognita Productions
Release date
  • September 29, 2007 (2007-09-29) (United States)
Running time115 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Call of the Wild is a 2007 documentary film by the independent filmmaker Ron Lamothe. The premise details the odyssey of Christopher McCandless as Lamothe takes a road trip across North America to the places McCandless visited. Within the film, Lamothe reaches conclusions about McCandless' death which contradict both Sean Penn's film Into the Wild (2007) and Jon Krakauer's book Into the Wild (1996), on which Penn's film was based.

Content

In 2006, Ron Lamothe, decided to make a road trip documentary on Christopher McCandless. Lamothe was inspired by McCandless' story even before the book Into the Wild (1996) was published, as both he and McCandless were born in 1968 and graduated from college in 1990. They also shared the same roommate at one time in their lives, and Lamothe took a life-changing trip to Africa during the same time as McCandless' travels.

After a brief swim in Walden Pond, Lamothe begins his journey to Annandale, Virginia, where McCandless grew up and went to high school. Lamothe then journeys to Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where McCandless graduated in May 1990, and attends the 2006 graduation ceremony. Also attending the ceremony is filmmaker Sean Penn, who coincidentally was then filming a major motion picture about McCandless. Lamothe interviews a few graduates on their plans after college in hopes of finding a "McCandless" in the crowd while comparing the graduates to the free-spirited Generation X.

On June 3, Lamothe and a friend travel to Lake Mead and discuss the casting choice of Emile Hirsch as McCandless in the upcoming film. They incidentally pass through Penn's production as he sees two yellow Datsun B-210 props, the same car McCandless drove and later lost during a flash flood. Lamothe has the entire Lake Mead to himself without being bothered by Penn's crew, who chose to film in a different location.

Lamothe then ventures to California and visits Slab City, where McCandless had stayed during the Christmas holidays in 1991. Lamothe tours Salvation Mountain and interviews Leonard Knight, who built the site and claims to have met McCandless during McCandless' stay.

Lamothe then decides to visit Carthage, South Dakota, where McCandless took on a job working at a grain elevator in September 1990 and in April 1992. Like McCandless, Lamothe travels to Carthage solely by hitchhiking. Lamothe travels through Colorado with an ex-drug dealer—who used to live in Alaska-and along I-80 through Nebraska to Council Bluffs, Iowa with a group of young adults who enjoy collecting mushrooms alongside the road. After days of hitchhiking, Lamothe finally makes it to Carthage but learns that no one in the town will take interviews for his documentary, since they are under contract by Paramount Vantage for Penn's film. However, Lamothe does get to interview the truck driver who gave McCandless a ride from Carthage to Enderlin, North Dakota, as his life story was not owned by Paramount.

After departing Carthage, Lamothe travels through Canada but this time as the driver. He agrees to pick up any hitchhiker he sees but unfortunately doesn't find any along the way.

Finally, Lamothe arrives in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he interviews a few locals at a bar who only have criticisms about McCandless. Lamothe sets out on the Stampede Trail on foot, but when he tries to cross the Teklanika River, his camera becomes damaged, leading him to think his film is ruined. However, unknown to Lamothe, his camera is fine as he attempts to film as much of Bus 142 (where McCandless died in August 1992) as possible. After a few nights at the bus, Lamothe travels back home to Massachusetts and returns to his normal life.

New findings

Lamothe documents several later findings that contradict Krakauer's book and Penn's film. He reports that McCandless was not poisoned by wild potato seeds as Krakauer had suspected, as the toxicologist hired by Krakauer did not find any poisonous effects of the seeds. He concludes that McCandless was simply unable to forage enough food to feed himself and died of starvation.

However, in March 2015 Krakauer co-authored a scientific analysis of the Hedysarum alpinum seeds McCandless ate. The report found relatively high levels of L-canavanine (an antimetabolite toxic to mammals) in the H. alpinum seeds and concluded "it is highly likely that the consumption of H. alpinum seeds contributed to the death of Chris McCandless."

Lamothe also reveals that McCandless' driver's license, social security card and US$300 in cash were retrieved from a hidden pocket in McCandless' backpack, suggesting that McCandless intended to return from seclusion.

Lamothe further suspects that McCandless had an arm or shoulder injury not shown in the famous self-portrait photo by the bus, in which McCandless' shirt sleeve has the appearance of being empty. Lamothe believes, based on McCandless' S.O.S. note, that McCandless had injured his arm or dislocated his shoulder, and thus could not have swum across the Teklanika River to escape.

Reception

The film screened October 8 and 9, 2007 as part of the San Francisco Documentary Film Festival, and the University of Alaska hosted the Fairbanks premiere of the film December 10, 2007.

The Denver Film Society offered that the film mounted "a thoughtful challenge to Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild (and actor-director Sean Penn's screen adaptation thereof), The Call of the Wild presents an alternative to the popular account of Chris McCandless, the self-styled 'aesthetic voyager' who died alone in the Alaskan wilderness in 1992 at age 24." They further noted Lamothe's, while filming, having several "run-ins" with Penn who was, in the same time-frame and locations, himself involved in the making of a production about McCandless, and made note of how Penn's production had "the clout to thwart Lamothe at many a turn." They concluded: "ultimately, however, what lies at the film's core is Lamothe's own journey of discovery. The conceit allows him to explore the concept of wilderness and its influence on the American psyche, as well as its reflection on our cultural landscape; the generation gap as measured by changing rites of passage; and the disparity between independent and Hollywood filmmaking."

British film critic Neil Young wrote that the film was a "disarmingly fresh, utterly engrossing documentary" in how it addressed "specific details of McCandless's controversial life (and even more controversial demise)" by director Ron Lamothe covering "a surprisingly expansive amount of geographic and thematic terrain as he journeys cross-county – driving, then hitchhiking – in McCandless's footsteps." In watching the production, Young offered "the film becomes not so much about McCandless or Lamothe (though it's certainly to some degree a portrait of both) but a more general rumination on the ambitions and limitations of the generation to which both belonged (the picture is part-dedicated to 'Generation X') and also a celebration of rural America's more eccentric backwaters."

Suite101 compares the different media depicting McCandless' journey and death. They note Sean Penn's version makes McCandless into a societal hero who burns his identity and money in a personal quest to exile himself from the material demands and obligations of modern society. They feel that although slightly different, the depictions by Krakauer and Lamothe were more down-to-Earth, and note that while Krakauer's version has McCandless divest himself of all identification, Lamothe's version attempted to be more accurate in its revealing that McCandless' wallet was discovered inside the wreckage of the bus, and that it contained his social security card, birth certificate, driver's licence, health card, map, and even library card, as well as $300 cash.

Juneau Empire wrote that release of the Krakauer book and the Penn and Lamothe films "cemented the mystique of Christopher McCandless" and there has been an increase of visitors coming to Alaska to retrace his steps. They also reported that 25 miles east of the site of the wrecked bus, residents of Healy, Alaska, feared the influx of unprepared visitors "making dangerous pilgrimages for a character portrayed as a spiritual visionary rather than an ill-prepared misfit, as many Alaskans view McCandless." While the wrecked 1940s-era International Harvester bus had been used for decades as a shelter by hunters, hikers, and other backwoods travelers, there is an area-wide worry about the safety of unprepared visitors "who are determined to make it to the bus no matter what."

SFist wrote that while the film's first half appears to be more about Ron Lamothe and less about Christopher McCandless, the "documentary gets good at the end and there are some interesting theories and revelations (the popular theory that McCandless died from poison seeds/berries is refuted)", and the film could have used better editing. They also felt that the amount of time Lamothe spent documenting the people who picked him up while he hitchhiked in a manner emulating McCandless', was "a use of screen time that seems beyond self-indulgent."

Kentucky Educational Television made note that, through the following of Christopher McCandless' footsteps, Ron Lamothe's film "uncovers never-before-seen evidence that sheds new light on the case, and the mystery surrounding his death", directly contradicting Jon Krakauer's interpretations in the book Into the Wild and those made in Sean Penn's film adaption of Krakauer's book.

References

  1. ^ Harmanci, Reyhan (September 26, 2007). "Movie: 'Call of the Wild'". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  2. ^ Southern, Nathan. "The Call of the Wild (2007)". Allmovie. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  3. ^ staff. "The Call Of The Wild". Denver Film Society. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  4. Krakauer, J., et al. (2015). "Presence of l-canavanine in Hedysarum alpinum seeds and its potential role in the death of Chris McCandless." Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2014.08.014
  5. ^ "DVD review: Call of the Wild". Neil Young's Film Lounge. July 12, 2007. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  6. Cole, Terrence (December 6, 2007). "Event, film offers alternate view on McCandless story". University of Alaska. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  7. Alexandre, Ayza P (December 6, 2010). ""Into the Wild": la vérité sur l'aventure de McCandless". Suite101 (in French). Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  8. D'Oro, Rachel (June 30, 2008). "'Into the Wild' pilgrimages increase". Juneau Empire. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  9. staff (July 1, 2008). "'Into the Wild' tours on rise". The Washington Times. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  10. staff (October 3, 2007). "DocFest: Call Of The Wild". SFist. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  11. Soileau, Ellen (May 22, 2009). "Documentary traces voyager's journey, tragic end Uncovers real story behind Into the Wild". Kentucky Educational Television. Archived from the original on June 8, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2013.

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