Just discovered this absolute treat of an adventure documentary. “The Way It Was” bridges a 50-year generational gap to bring a lost piece of Alaskan wilderness history back to life.
Originally captured on raw 16mm film in 1973, the footage documents a rugged, untouched era where a tight-knit crew embarked on isolated wilderness excursions, completely severed from modern civilization. The creator, an adventurer named Chuck, ultimately left the ambitious project unfinished after his passions shifted toward aviation, leaving the unutilized reels packed away for decades. Now, 50 years down the line, Chuck has partnered with his grandson Max, a recent Chapman film school graduate, to finally restore and complete project.
“An Alaskan adventurer and his grandson set out to finish a film he shot 50 years ago, confronting whether it’s better to remember the past…or relive it.”
The film captures a unique moment in American outdoors history and is a heartwarming tale of a grandfather and his grandson connecting on their mutual love of wilderness storytelling.
