Good Man in the Woods

(1988) 88 minutes DVD

A documentary that features the lives of the survivors of the ancient callings of the wilderness – loggers, trappers, and commercial fishermen – showing how character is shaped by daily exposure to the hazards and splendor of the forests and Lake Superior. As the men carry on with their work, they talk about unions and the vagaries of supply and demand that affect their industries. These wilderness workers are truly endangered species. The film includes an historical overview of the Upper Peninsula and makes good use of historic photographs to depict the early days of mining and lumbering.