Lost on a Mountain in Maine

Thank you Balboa Productions for providing us with a screener link to watch the film!

Lost on a Mountain in Maine is based off of a 2013 book documenting the true story about a twelve-year-old boy named Donn who was lost on Mt. Katahdin for nine days. This happened in 1939 where there were no cell phones, air tags, GPS, or any easy way to locate lost people. What makes this story even more miraculous is that Donn wasn't a seasoned hiker with proper equipment. He was separated from his family during a storm and was fending for himself with only the clothes on his back. He walked eighty miles and was found thirty five miles away from where he was last seen!

Lost on a Mountain in Maine begins with an inside glimpse of Donn's family dynamics. His relationship with his father is very formal and he refers to him as "sir". The father is gone on business trips a lot and he doesn't tolerate bickering between his sons. Donn often gets into fights with his twin brother, Ryan.

The boys are looking forward to a 2-week fishing trip, but it gets cut short when their father has to go back to work sooner than planned. Instead of fishing, they reluctantly decide to hike on Mt. Katahdin. The weather isn't ideal and the dad and their youngest brother turn back home before reaching the summit. The twins are left with their guide to continue onward. The weather worsens and the brothers bickered about turning back. During the fight, Donn ran off and as a result got lost for over a week.

Lost on a Mountain in Maine is divided by days and watching Donn's struggle to eat and stay warm will keep you at the edge of your seat. There are references to a forest/mountain god and they play a role in the story. The family is Christian and there's a scene where the dad is reading his Bible. After a week of being lost, there's a scene where Donn contemplates eternal slumber, but this movie wouldn't exist if he gave up!

This film is an hour and thirty eight minutes long. Other than the Indian god references and a single use of the curse word sh*t, it's Christian and family friendly. It has a great lesson on perseverance. Donn was given excellent advice by his father to not lose his head, follow the stream, and to press on. Because he followed that advice Donn was able to live until he was ninety.