“American Values, American Wilderness”
July 2005
Inside the Garden City

High Plains Films, a Missoula-based documentary film company founded by Drury Carr and Doug Hawes-Davis is proud to announce the release of their latest film: “American Values, American Wilderness.”

The film, narrated by the late Christopher Reeve and produced in association with the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, documents the deeply personal love of wild places by a broad variety of Americans.

“American Values, American Wilderness” is the latest in a line of critically-acclaimed films produced by High Plains Films. The film takes a look at the value of wild country as seen through interviews with a diverse group of Americans from across the United States. Weaved together by Reeve’s narration, this 57 minute film introduces viewers to a wide range of people from Florida to Alaska, including, among others, a teen-age daughter of Cambodian refugees, a children’s book author, a cancer survivor, a Native American Tribal chairman, a man increasingly disabled by polio, and inner city kids visiting wilderness for the first time.

These people share their values for wilderness as a place of sanctuary for animals and plants, the source of clean air and water, a place for challenge and spiritual renewal, and as a legacy for future generations. Their experiences and hopes are interspersed with photography of some of the beautiful wildlands that have captured their hearts.

A labor of love for Reeve, the late actor donated his time and energy to the film – one of his last on-screen appearances before his death in October 2004. As he concludes, “It’s been a while since I was in a wilderness. It might take a bit longer before I do get back to one. But even if that never happens, I will always value wilderness.”

The film is the directorial debut of Christopher Barns, who co-produced the film along with Hawes-Davis and Carr.

“American Values, American Wilderness” will begin airing on PBS stations across the country in the fall. In the meantime, DVDs are available for purchase from the High Plains Films www site at www.highplainsfilms.org.