Colorado Filmmaker Premieres New National Park Film

Award winning documentary filmmaker Nick Mollé recently announced the premiere of his newest documentary "The Living Dream: One Hundred Years of Rocky Mountain National Park."

The 90 minute film documents the history of Rocky Mountain National Park from the Native American and Mountain Man eras through the pioneers. It continues through the 20th Century and into modern times.

As a historical documentary it explores the influence of people from the obsessive naturalist Enos Mills, to the self-serving Lord Dunraven, and the benevolent F.O. Stanley on this national park. Gunfights and legal battles failed to stay the progress and process of protecting the park for future generations.

"Fires and floods have not deterred the determination of the communities of Estes Park and Grand Lake to live in harmony with Rocky," said Mollé. "Our goal in making this is to recognize that the bond between the wilderness, its wildlife, and the people who preserve it has an inherent power greater than any artificial possession." One particular poignant quote from the movie is that of a park ranger Cynthia Langguth when she says, "What people bring to the park is as important as what we perceive the Park gives to them."

The story is told through interviews with historians including James Pickering PhD, Curt Buchholtz, Dave Lively, and Bob Brunswig PhD. National Park personnel and local citizens contribute their personal insights. In particular, Tom Hornbein of Mt. Everest fame and world class climber Tommy Caldwell share their feelings about the Park's centerpiece, Longs Peak.

Several years of filming and months of editing have GONE into this production. Included in the work are numerous historical photos as well as rare archival films dating back to the beginning of the 20th Century.

"The Living Dream - One Hundred Years of Rocky Mountain National Park" will be released nationwide on PBS in September of 2015, but will make its theatrical premiere on Thursday, January 29th at the Reel Mountain Theatre in Estes Park, CO at 7 pm.

Tickets are available in advance or at the door at Reel Mountain Theatre. Admission is $7.00. DVDs may be purchased with a portion of their sales going to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy.

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