Lost on a Mountain in Maine: Movie Review

It might surprise some of you that Saturday night in rural Farmington, Maine, the place was hopping, and the popcorn was popping. It was opening weekend for the movie, Lost on a Mountain in Maine. My husband and I settled in our seats amid a packed house at the Narrow-Gauge Cinema. I was excited to watch my favorite survival story that occurred in 1939. Here was the true story of twelve-year-old Donn Fendler who was lost for nine days on the treacherous slopes of Mt. Katahdin. This is an incredible tale of a boy’s grit as he teeters on the edge of death, alone in 100,000 acres of wilderness.

Until this movie was released, most people outside of Maine had never heard of Donn’s heroism, overcoming vicious insect attacks, bare feet torn by sharp rocks (he did lose a toe), and even an encounter with a startled bear. I first heard the story upon my relocation to Maine from Massachusetts. I listened to the audio version one day while driving on Interstate 95. So engrossed in the story, I nearly drove straight through a toll booth.

It was with some trepidation that my husband and I went to the movie. Would they water down the story? Would they change key events contributing to Donn’s survival? Thankfully, I was not disappointed.

Drone cinematography of Mt. Katahdin’s steep cliffs and thick forests outdid the book. It is one thing to write a description of the wilderness. To see the desolation showed beyond a shadow of a doubt Donn’s miraculous escape from certain death.

The film sticks closely to the book yet adds a different emphasis. We see the community of neighbors, hunters, military, and state rangers galvanize into one of the largest manhunts in state history. At one point a search plane flies directly over the lost boy. Filmmakers also chose to emphasize tensions in the Fendler family. Donn was portrayed as a defiant son, stubborn and disrespectful to his father. I do not believe this was accurate and wonder what Donn would think of it. It did slightly concern me, but poetic license was employed. Ultimately, that tension turned into a jubilant ending.

I also was curious to see if they would touch upon Donn’s deep faith. Throughout the ordeal, the boy had a strong sense that he was not alone. He sensed a presence and prayed fervently each day. In the movie, Donn stared at rays of sunlight streaming through the trees. He talked to God, “Please don’t leave me alone.” In real life, Donn was reticent to speak of his mystical experience but finally admitted that he believed his guardian angel saved him.

Actual interviews of Donn’s twin brother, his mother, and those involved in the search were woven into the film. We saw archival footage of his emotional return and even his meeting with President Franklin Roosevelt.

It is not often that moviegoers clap at the end of a show. As the credits rolled across the screen, the full house clapped, probably enthused that this Maine story will be shared with a wider audience. The film adaption of Fendler’s book was released in 650 theaters across the country.