Alone in the Wilderness

One man's 32-year Alaskan experience in the cabin he built by hand.

2004 • 57 min • Documentary · History · TV Movie

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Synopsis

Dick Proenneke retired at age 50 in 1967 and decided to build his own cabin in the wilderness at the base of the Aleutian Peninsula, in what is now Lake Clark National Park. Using color footage he shot himself, Proenneke traces how he came to this remote area, selected a homestead site and built his log cabin completely by himself. The documentary covers his first year in-country, showing his day-to-day activities and the passing of the seasons as he sought to scratch out a living alone in the wilderness.

Our family guide

Best from age 7

Movie Knight Score

85 reviews

79 Audience · 85 · 100%

Dick Proenneke, at age 50, moved to the Alaskan wilderness in 1967 to build his own log cabin. This documentary, using his own footage, follows his first year living self-sufficiently, showcasing his daily life and the changing seasons as he built his home and scratched out a living.

Violence & peril: 1/10
Language: 1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 0/10
Romance & sensuality: 0/10
Scary moments: 2/10

Heads up

Some scenes show Proenneke hunting for food.
Occasional close-ups of wildlife, including bears.

What it models well

Self-reliance and ingenuity
Appreciation for nature
Patience and hard work
Living sustainably

Talk about it after

The challenges and rewards of living off the land.
The skills needed to build a cabin and survive in the wilderness.
Protecting wild places and natural resources.

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Alone in the Wilderness. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.