The movie 180° SOUTH shows in Eugene at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 30, at the WOW Hall, 291 W. 8th Ave. The film’s star, Jeff Johnson, will be at both showings to greet people and answer questions.
The movie is about of one of the most unique and prolific environmentalists of our time -Yvon Chouinard. Rather than re-living Yvon’s story through old photos and his life’s work with pie charts, “180° SOUTH” weaves Chouinard’s tale through a modern day expedition.
This expedition was inspired by the rumor of a legendary trip in 1968 and the proof that came with it when the lost cans of film that documented the trip were recently discovered. The old footage captures Chouinard and best friend Doug Tompkins in 1968 as they explore untouched mountain ranges and un-surfed coastline on a 5,000 mile expedition from California to deep Patagonia. For the two men, the original ’68 adventure still stands as “the trip of our lives.”
A young American adventurer named Jeff Johnson happened upon the footage in 1999 and spent the next ten years of his life dreaming of following their footsteps south. In 2007, Jeff dropped everything to finally fulfill his dream. He set out to follow Chouinard’s classic route on what became a six month traverse of North and South America.
His hope was simply to find unclimbed mountains and un-ridden waves in the spirit of his heroes. However, as he travels, his eyes open up to see the environmental disasters that threaten these places as well as the human triumphs that are working to save them.
From the start of the film, each scene seamlessly echoes back and forth between Jeff’s modern day adventure and conversations happening in a century old stone cabin in deep Patagonia.
Tickets are available through presale or at the door. Cost is $10. The movie showing is sponsored by Patagonia, Native Fish Society, and the Caddis Fly Shop.
To purchase presale tickets for the Eugene showing, please call WOW Hall at 541-687-2746.
“Turn around and take a step forward.” The man is a guru, no joke.
It is a failed system and we have to reorient ourselves. This movie is going to rule!
It’s a great movie! Nice to see this event taking place.