Finding Farley
Encyclopedia
Finding Farley is a 2009 documentary directed by Leanne Allison as she and her husband Karsten Heuer travel across Canada
in the literary footsteps of Canadian writer Farley Mowat
.
Heuer, a biologist and author, had written a book on his experiences making the documentary Being Caribou
, in which he and Allison traveled 1500 km by foot across Arctic tundra following a herd of 120,000 Porcupine caribou
. After reading a draft of Heuer's account, Mowat invited them to visit him at his summer farm in Cape Breton Island
.
Accompanied by their two-year old son Zev and dog Willow, the couple left their home in Calgary
in May of 2007 for a 5000 kilometre, six-month trek east across Canada. From Canmore, Alberta
, 100 kilometres west of Calgary, they canoed to Hudson Bay
, visiting many of the settings Mowat wrote about in Never Cry Wolf, Lost in the Barrens
and People of the Deer
. From Hudson Bay, their plan was to travel by sea to northern Labrador
, the setting of Mowat stories such as The Serpent's Coil, Grey Seas Under
, Sea of Slaughter and A Whale for the Killing. From Newfoundland and Labrador
they planned a final journey by water, arriving at Cape Breton near the end of October.
Finding Farley was the top film at the 2010 Banff Mountain Film Festival
, receiving both the Grand Prize and People’s Choice awards.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in the literary footsteps of Canadian writer Farley Mowat
Farley Mowat
Farley McGill Mowat, , born May 12, 1921 is a conservationist and one of Canada's most widely-read authors.His works have been translated into 52 languages and he has sold more than 14 million books. He achieved fame with the publication of his books on the Canadian North, such as People of the...
.
Heuer, a biologist and author, had written a book on his experiences making the documentary Being Caribou
Being Caribou
Being Caribou is a 2004 documentary film that chronicles the travels of husband and wife Karsten Heuer and Leanne Allison following the migration of the Porcupine caribou Herd to explore the Arctic Refuge drilling controversy. The journey lasted 5 months, starting from the community of Old Crow,...
, in which he and Allison traveled 1500 km by foot across Arctic tundra following a herd of 120,000 Porcupine caribou
Porcupine caribou
The Porcupine caribou or Grant's caribou is a subspecies of the caribou found in Alaska and adjacent parts of Canada. It resembles the Barren-ground Caribou and is sometimes included in it....
. After reading a draft of Heuer's account, Mowat invited them to visit him at his summer farm in Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
.
Accompanied by their two-year old son Zev and dog Willow, the couple left their home in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
in May of 2007 for a 5000 kilometre, six-month trek east across Canada. From Canmore, Alberta
Canmore, Alberta
Canmore is a town in Alberta, Canada, located approximately west of the City of Calgary near the southeast boundary of Banff National Park. It is located in the Bow Valley within Alberta's Rockies. The town shares a border with Kananaskis Country to the west and south and the Municipal District of...
, 100 kilometres west of Calgary, they canoed to Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
, visiting many of the settings Mowat wrote about in Never Cry Wolf, Lost in the Barrens
Lost in the Barrens
Lost in the Barrens is a children's novel by Farley Mowat, first published in 1956. Some editions used the title Two Against the North....
and People of the Deer
People of the Deer
People of the Deer is Canadian author Farley Mowat's first book, which brought him literary recognition....
. From Hudson Bay, their plan was to travel by sea to northern Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
, the setting of Mowat stories such as The Serpent's Coil, Grey Seas Under
The Grey Seas Under
The Grey Seas Under is a non-fiction book by well-known Canadian author Farley Mowat about the Atlantic Salvage Tug Foundation Franklin, operated by the firm Foundation Maritime in Canada's Maritime provinces from 1930 to 1948....
, Sea of Slaughter and A Whale for the Killing. From Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
they planned a final journey by water, arriving at Cape Breton near the end of October.
Finding Farley was the top film at the 2010 Banff Mountain Film Festival
Banff Mountain Film Festival
The Banff Mountain Film Festival is an international film competition and an annual presentation of short films and documentaries about mountain culture, sports, and environment. It was launched in 1976 as The Banff Festival of Mountain Films by The Banff Centre and is held every fall in Banff,...
, receiving both the Grand Prize and People’s Choice awards.