The first documentary from Matty Hannon, The Road to Patagonia, asks a visceral question: What if we’re all not meant for contemporary society? A film that charts a filmmaker’s sociological and surfing expeditions. Starting from a rural village in Sumatra to traversing the entire span of the west coast of the Americas, Matty Hannon seeks his place in this world. It’s clear from the limited time Hannon devotes to his time in the First World that he just doesn’t envision himself working a desk job. As he mentions in his insightful and laconic narration, the Sumatran villagers have no word for depression or suicide. These are rare occurrences in their remote village. Yet, all of us in the industrialized world know at least a few people who are depressed, and possibly one person who has committed the act of suicide; I know I do.
The Road to Patagonia is a vital balm of spiritual energy. Shot by Hannon and his partner Heather Hillier as they engaged on this trek from Alaska to Patagonia, there is a homespun quality to the cinematography that brings a brisk and fragile element to the natural splendor we see all around them. There are some heady, primal qualities to the wild parts of North and South America. From the evergreen forests of Alaska to the mountain wonder of the Mapuche territory in rural Chile, The Road to Patagonia presents a travelogue that touches a deep part of your soul.
Hannon’s South American trek in The Road to Patagonia.
“…a trek from Alaska to Patagonia…”
No film is shot that is clear of adversity or some sort of antagonist. The Road to Patagonia it is Heather and Matty who become the obstacles to their own goals. Corporate greed makes the trek more treacherous. Particularly when these two modern-day vagabonds choose to switch from motorbikes to horses, once they acquire their four fuzzy companions, the issues inherent to the long journey become much more dire. There is a sequence deep in The Road to Patagonia where they spend a day and a half looking for food and water for the horses. These two clearly intended the horses should live on foraging the greenery and drinking stream water. However, when Corporations despoil forests or dam rivers to power their mines, such resources become scarce. As one Mapuche mentions, “This is how they destroy the world.”
There is a gentle political undercurrent in The Road to Patagonia. As Matty and Heather narrate, it becomes clear they’ve taken a shine to the concepts of Animism. A spiritual path which suggests each entity found in nature has its own personhood, Animism was the philosophy that powered many native tribes on both the Western Hemisphere continents. As the adventures prolong, both Matty and Heather come to understand just how all life is interconnected. Sure, in Chile, Heather will go back to British Columbia and work on her farm. Once Matty concludes his trip to Patagonia, though, you can almost tell he means to go find her.
The Road to Patagonia is a beautiful travelogue. If you enjoy nature documentaries or even surfing documentaries, this one is for you. Check it out. It’s radically glorious.
"…a vital balm of spiritual energy..."
