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‘Decoding the Driftless’ reconnects residents with their home region

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George Howe, one of the producers of “Decoding the Driftless,” a documentary about the Driftless Area in which we live, presented the film to an audience of about 40 at the Prairie du Chien Memorial Library last week. (Photo by Correne Martin)

By Correne Martin

 

The average person living in the Driftless Area is disconnected with the kind of landscape gem in which he resides. 

“Decoding the Driftless”—the 2018 feature-length documentary film starring the region in southwest Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa and extreme northwest Illinois—was made to spread awareness to those living in and others who’ve never heard of the world-class resources and ancient geological story of the Driftless Area.

Directed by Jonas Stenstrom, of Sweden, and produced by Rob Nelson, George Howe and Tim Jacobson, the film was presented to a captive audience of about 40 adults at the Prairie du Chien Memorial Library Jan. 24. The opportunity was made possible by the Friends of the PdC Memorial Library.

“We knew if people were made aware, they would make sure this region was preserved sustainably,” said Howe, who introduced the showing and followed up the event with a question and answer session. 

He proudly pointed out that “Decoding the Driftless” is being accepted into about half the international film festivals the crew has entered, and it’s been awarded in about a quarter of those film festivals.

“People around the world are recognizing the Driftless,” he stated. 

The hour-long film, by Sustainable Driftless Inc., takes viewers on an adventure through the air, across rugged landscapes, on and under the water, through a secret underworld and across time to explore and decipher ancient clues of archaeology, paleontology, geology and biology of the region. Its captive scenic beauty exists essentially because the glaciers of past ice ages missed the region. 

Howe sold numerous copies of the “Decoding the Driftless” DVD, as well as some apparel, at the library presentation. He also presented the library with several copies to add to its collection.

Contact the library if interested in getting on the list for checkout.  

Howe said the creators and the non-profit Sustainable Driftless are developing packets for schools that include the film, discussion points, exercises, field trip suggestions, etc. He said they’re also in the process of creating a short video about the places in “Decoding the Driftless,” for viewers who wish to experience the film’s destinations first-hand.

Visit sustainabledriftless.org to purchase a copy for yourself, a friend or family member, or a classroom. 

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