Movie Review - "The Big Lonely" - Surviving in Isolation
"The Big Lonely" is a gripping film telling the story of Michael Nelms, a persecuted man shot down by a callous bureaucracy and left penniless to live on the streets. Having been a successful auto dealer, real estate broker, and victim of several bad marriages, retreating to a remote forest hideout seems a logical choice. Living under a bridge as a homeless person has no appeal for this man.
As he talks to the camera, we find out that he built this little shack on federal land and justifies his right to be there by calling it a mining concession, a fake, he admits. One of his daily tasks is to collect water from a nearby stream. The winter has been harsh and he must shred a foot of ice. His dog Tic, a mixture of wolf and malamute, leads the way. Food is a constant need in this wilderness, and obtaining fresh meat is a demanding challenge. In winter, moose and deer move to lower elevations where food is more abundant and the snow is not as deep. Snow levels have reached up to 10 feet in recent years
As such, the sources of meat are limited to rabbits, coyotes, and rats. Dressing these animals and cooking them is an important part of the movie. Michael shares his fixings with his dog Tic and their relationship is one of the equal partners in their quest for survival.
However, survival issues aren't what makes this film unique, it's the positive attitude of the contestants, Michael and his dog, Tic. They accept difficulties as part of life and work together to overcome them. When a bear attacks Michael and pins him to the ground, he stabs the animal in the trachea. He describes this ordeal in detail, right down to the wheezing sounds as the bear longs to breathe. It's a horrific time in his life and he flaunts the resulting scars with some trepidation. While the bear meat got them through another winter, the attack left him with repeated nightmares. Michael says, "Dreams are where you are headed. Nightmares are where your mind takes you."
It's philosophies like these that give weight to this film, which this man learned from his time in the desert and openly shares his thoughts with us. He talks about dying and wanting his body to replenish the earth that has nourished him for so many years. As supplies run out in the middle of winter, the two travel around 50 kilometers to restock. Michael sets up a camp out of town and finds various jobs to buy supplies that will get them through the next winter.
You might be wondering how he was able to record so much video footage without a power source to recharge the camera's batteries. While this is not covered in the movie, I noticed a few solar powered devices mounted on a tree, which was likely to recharge the battery.
The film is a stunning self-portrait tale as we listen to a man finding peace and understanding in the Oregon wilderness. It is the inspiring story of the resilience and sustainability of the human spirit. A heartwarming film, "The Big Lonely" conveys prophetic wisdom on the sins of the past and hopes for the future.
CREDITS: Cast: Michael Nelms; Director - David Manougian; Producer - Troy Gamble & David Kamens; Executive Producer - David Monougian; Editor - Kerribeth Elliot Camera Setup & Consulting - JP Morgan; Camera and sound - Michael Nelms; Original music composer and performer - Robin Zimmermann; Sound editor - Reed Harvey; Online Editor - William Schultz; A production presentation of Juicebox; Not evaluated; 82 minutes.