Wa-Sha-Quon-Asin (Grey Owl (DVD))

Member Name: 2Quizzy

Product:	Grey Owl (DVD)
Date:	22/03/04 (772 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great scenery, Great message

Disadvantages: Bit slow, Bit idealised

Excerpt from KING OF THE BEAVER PEOPLE by Grey Owl 1931

"In the creek that feeds the lake I had fixed up an old beaver-house, placed a quantity of feed, and turned him loose. But he did not want to be loose. Every night before the ice came he was at the camp door at dark. He was by no means the first homeless kitten beaver that had fallen into my hands, and his predecessors, who had all survived their delicate infancy, had seemed imbued with the idea that life was a huge joke, and were mischievous to a degree. But he was all alone and seemed to miss his small companion that was gone, and had none of the light-hearted deviltry of his forerunners.

He was a sad little creature as he sat forlornly on the floor, and he had none of the fatal beauty that so undermines the talent of some of our screen heroes, yet who knows but that in the wee old-fashioned brain there was not some dim recollection of happy days of romping and tumbling with just such another clumsy ball of fur, in the deep cool grass along the river-bank? And sometimes, as he regarded me gravely, sitting on my feet the while, my heart went out to the little waif that did not want to be free, and I would pick him up and pass my hand over the rich fur. And he would sigh contentedly and fall immediately asleep, to dream of cool waters and mud, of poplar leaves and pancakes."

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The story behind the man:

Archibald Belany, born on 18 September 1888, was of mixed Scottish and Native American heritage. He was named Wa-Sha-Quon-Asin (He-Who-Flies-by-Night or Grey Owl) by the Ojibways. He started his life in Canada as a trapper, but after meeting and falling in love with an Iroquois girl named Anahareo things changed. Her disapproval of trapping and her concern and love for animals transformed him. He became a forest ranger and guide and ended up becoming a passionate advocate for Nature Conservation.

His firs
t steps into writing were articles in "Forests and Outdoors", a Canadian Forestry Association publication. These articles were mostly based on his life with Anahareo in the Canadian wilds and would lead to several books. By the beginning of the 20th century Grey Owl was famous in Canada and beyond. At a time when the concept of nature conservation was virtually unknown he led the way with his books and lectures on the dangers of deforestation and trapping. The Native American peoples saw him as their spokesperson and in England he became a cult hero. The highly romanticised "Noble Savage". In England on tour his lectures were a sell-out and he even spoke at Buckingham palace.

Richard Attenborough, who actually went to one of Grey Owl's lectures over half a century ago, describes Grey Owl as "..an unbelievable celebrity. He was as big as the Beatles later became and had massive charisma. ..the world's first celebrity conservationist. He used his extraordinary fame to sound an early warning about our environment. He was also mainly responsible for saving the Canadian beaver, surely one of the world's endearing creatures, from extinction. For all his faults - and they were many - Grey Owl is one of my heroes."

Archie Belany certainly had his faults and his secrets. He was much more, and much less, than anyone ever suspected during his lifetime. He was both a bigamist and an alcoholic, but it would only be after his death that the biggest revelation was exposed. Something that would overshadow and almost destroy his name and all he had fought to create. Thankfully he is now seen once again as a great conservationist who was way ahead of his times in his ideas and ideals.

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The Movie:

My mom owns all of the books written by Grey Owl and we're both fans so we were thrilled when we first heard that a movie was being made about him. Seeing
it I had mixed feelings. It's a really nice movie, but it has flaws.

Richard Attenborough has a tendency to take his projects personally and this movie is no different, but that may be part of the problem. Attenborough glosses over and polishes up Archie and in the process makes him more presentable, but also less believable. Nevertheless it's an enjoyable movie and the visuals are stunning. The magnificent Canadian scenery and wildlife are filmed in true Attenborough style and the lead stars are both very pleasing on the eye. Pierce Brosnan makes a very delectable wild man with his long hair (extensions, he didn't have time before the movie to grow it long enough naturally) flowing down his muscular back as he conquers the great Canadian wilderness and wins the heart of the strikingly lovely Annie Galipeau who plays Anahareo. Pierce Brosnan got a thumbs down for his acting in this one and he does come across as awkward and aloof. Since the real Grey Owl was a man who juggled being famous whilst still keeping the truth about his past a secret I could see where this might have made the real Grey Owl equally awkward and aloof. So it's hard to say if Brosnan was over-acting or under-acting here.

The movie revolves mostly around the love story between the mature distant Archie and the young cheeky Anahareo, nicknamed "Pony". Pony is a Native American girl raise to be a thoroughly modern Westernised woman by her father, played by Graham Greene.

She goes in search of this elusive "Grey Owl" who is causing a stir with his articles and who speaks out in favour of the traditional way of life her father has rejected. What starts as feminine curiosity and love of a challenge (Grey Owl is at first highly un-enthused to have this young girl getting in his way) grows into love as she learns more about the real man... or does she? Archie is a deeply private man and there are secrets he never reveals even to Pony. S
ecrets you'll have to watch the movie to discover. Secrets that prove that the truth really is stranger than fiction!

Woven in and around this love story and Archie's hidden self is his even deeper passion for Nature and the Native peoples of the land he loves. The best scenes, in my opinion, are the ones that deal with these issues. The romantic scenes are sweet and amusing, but it's the scenes of Archie talking at his lectures and discussing his fears with the council of elders that struck and stayed with me. Like the scene where he approaches the Elders for advice when a journalist discovers the secrets of his past they gently set him back on the path in a way that makes it clear that they know the truth and already forgive him for being as human and fallible as the rest of us.

The scene where he makes a passionate plea for humanity to stop taking nature for granted and literally lays himself "bare" before the audience is equally memorable. Archie eventually returns to his past and faces his past, but even then it's not something he ever shares with anyone, not even Pony.

If you're looking for a pleasant romance with a strong pro-environment message set in ultra-stunning scenery with a startling twist to the tale you'll enjoy this movie. If you're looking to discover more about a unique and highly unconventional man and his wonderful relationship with nature - go read his books.

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Books:
The Men of the Last Frontier, published in 1931
Pilgrims of the Wild, published in 1934
The Adventures of Sajo and her Beaver People, published in 1935
Tales of an Empty Cabin, published in 1936
The Tree, published in 1937.
Numerous magazine articles and several documentary films

Biographies:
From the Land of the Shadows - by Donald B. Smith, published in 1990
Grey Owl and I - by Anahareo, published in
1972
Wilderness Man: The Strange Story of Grey Owl - by Lovat Dickson, published in 1974

Summary: