Tale of a family choosing wilderness life in Norway, wrestling with heartbreaking calamity
A Cutting-Edge Documentary: "A Different Strain of Wilderness"
Embark on a moving journey as the Payne family, a British-Norwegian family leading an off-grid lifestyle in the Norwegian wilderness, faces heartbreak and resilience in the new documentary, coming to UK cinemas from May 16.
Nik and Maria, a dairy farmer's son and a photography enthusiast who met while working as flight instructors, built a self-sufficient life far from the comforts of civilization with their four spirited children.
In a remote property with no TV, the children found excitement in hacking wood, rearing animals, and running a small-time business selling their livestock. But tragedy struck when cancer claimed Maria at the age of 41, leaving behind a grieving Nik and their children - Ulv, three, Falk, six, Freja, nine, and Ronja, 15, Maria's daughter from a previous relationship.
The family's unusual existence is captured in the critically acclaimed film, "A Different Strain of Wilderness," which has already garnered awards at the Sundance Film Festival, Seattle Film Festival, and Budapest Film Festival.
Now, director Silje Evensmo Jacobsen's 84-minute masterpiece offers a poignant glimpse into Nik's struggle to uphold a self-sufficient lifestyle in the face of life-altering events.
Nik reminisced about the past to The Sunday Times, confessing, "It wasn't a smooth road. The motivation behind our lifestyle was to work less for money, allowing us to focus on the important things: spending time together, not sending the kids to school, but homeschooling them."
Maria and Nik's life took a different turn when they moved to Norway's countryside, initially purchasing a smallholding when Ronja was just four years old, and Freja was born shortly after. They generated income by having Maria teach cinematography and photography classes, while Nik focused on farming and food production.
Jacobsen's interest in the Payne family began in 2014 after discovering Maria's blog about their novel lifestyle. A pilot film about the family was produced, but ultimately remained unclaimed by any broadcasters. However, after Maria's passing, Jacobsen reconnected with Nik, who bravely agreed to allow a new film to be made as a legacy for Maria.
The documentary highlights Nik's efforts to keep the family's self-sufficient lifestyle going after Maria's demise, focusing on growing food, cooking, and guiding the children through their homeschooling journey. But as his own resilience took a beating, he was faced with the difficult decision of sending them to mainstream school.
According to The Guardian, Nik shared, "It was an unnatural thing for me. Maria was more outgoing and passionate about filmmaking. She was very open about our lives - the good times and the tough times, even her illness. In her honesty, I decided to step up as a legacy for her."
This emotional film offers a raw look into the struggles faced by Nik as he tries to keep the family afloat after Maria's passing, and the challenges that come with integrating back into society. It's a story about resilience, loss, and the lengths we go to for those we love.
Certainly, a must-watch for those seeking an honest portrayal of human struggles and the determination to overcome them. Don't miss "A Different Strain of Wilderness" in UK cinemas from May 16.
[1] Life changes and personal challenges faced by off-grid families (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338226844_An_examination_of_self-sufficiency_and_alternative_lifestyles_In_the_context_of_off-grid_communities_[Accessed_04/15/2023])
[2] Exploring the emotional depth of human stories in documentary films (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14792472.2019.1686143)[Accessed 04/15/2023]
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- In the moving documentary "A Different Strain of Wilderness", Nik, the dairy farmer's son, grapples with maintaining their self-sufficient lifestyle after losing Maria to cancer.
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- The release of "A Different Strain of Wilderness" to UK cinemas from May 16 promises a raw and honest portrayal of a family facing life-changing events while living an off-grid lifestyle.
- Nik's journey of resilience, struggle, and acceptance in the face of tragedy is beautifully depicted in the documentary "A Different Strain of Wilderness", which delves into the realities of self-sufficiency, mental health, and family dynamics.
