Join the treasure hunt in “Voyagers Without Trace”
In 1938, two young newlyweds and their good friend set off from Paris on a bold adventure: to be the first to take kayaks down America's famous whitewater river, the mighty Colorado. Setting off with film cameras, loaded with color film (before the first Hollywood color movie), they documented their journey, which took them on a cross country road trip across the US, a 1,000 miles of a first kayak decent down the Green and Colordao, and eventually back to France, at the outbreak of WWII. For more than 75 years their story had been lost--overshadowed by WWII, and forgotten--until filmmaker Ian McCluskey stumbled on an obscure roadside historic plaque. Curiosity and a call to adventure take hold, and he decides to learn how to white-water kayak to follow the path of the "voyagers without trace." In the process, he uncovers unexpected connections to the French Resistance, the French Riviera, and the spirit of adventure accessible to all.
NW Documentary will premiere its newest and largest film in a special Grand Premiere event on October 22nd at OMSI. Voyagers Without Trace, a feature documentary directed by filmmaker Ian McCluskey, invites viewers on a treasure hunt with him as he uncovers the story of three French adventurers who became the first to kayak down the Green and Colorado rivers in 1938, but then disappeared into obscurity.
In addition to the film, the special one-time-only event will feature live musical performances by Jenny Conlee of the Decemberists, and jazz trio Boy and Bean. Conlee will preview her upcoming album of music composed for Voyagers Without Trace. The evening will also include guest speakers, special displays and photo gallery, and a post-film soiree with French-inspired food and drink. This independent documentary was created by an all-star line up of talent, including Uncage the Soul Productions, leaders in outdoor adventure videography, and original music by Jenny Conlee of the Decemberists and Johnny Clay of The Dimes.
“This film truly is the result of a creative community coming together to help tell this lost story,” says McCluskey. In order to make the film, McCluskey, who had never kayaked before, paddled Oregon rivers, under the guidance of Paul Kuthe of Alder Creek Canoe and Kayak. In just a few weeks, Kuthe had to prepare McCluskey to take on the infamous whitewater of the Green and Colorado Rivers. He then journeyed to France, from Paris to the peaks of the Pyrenees and finally to the shore of the French Riviera to uncover this legacy of adventure. Ian McCluskey received the Oregon Media Fellowship for his work on Voyagers. The film was made primarily by volunteer contribution, and in-kind donations, as well as a successful Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign and support from foundations, including the National Endowment for the Humanities