Out There: A National Parks Story

In the centennial year of the National Park Service, a young filmmaker and his childhood friend set off on a 10,000-mile road trip through America’s national parks, leaving home with little more than a camera and a desire to understand what connects people to these wild places. What begins as a summer road trip in search of awe-inspiring landscapes becomes a seven-year odyssey that uncovers the human stories embedded in those wild places. Along the way, they meet rangers, conservationists, and everyday visitors whose lives have been shaped by the parks. Through personal stories of healing, transformation, and connection, a rich tapestry of the national park experience begins to emerge – one that reflects not just the beauty of the land, but the spirit of the people who love and protect it. Blending stunning cinematography with archival travelogues, posters, and maps, Out There:  A National Parks Story is both a tribute to the enduring legacy of the parks and a call to recognize the human presence that gives them meaning. It invites us to see these places not just as landscapes, but as living stories, reflecting on our own role in their preservation. (Dir. by Brendan Hall, 2024, USA, 75 mins., Not Rated)