HIT offers a film recounting a real Midwestern saga

By P.J. GLISSON

[email protected]

Ironwood - Some folks love to take on adventure, while others prefer to live vicariously through the escapades of other people.

On Sunday evening, the Historic Ironwood Theatre offered both types of people an exciting view of a father-son canoe trip that was based on a true story starting right here in this region.

"WaterWalk," a 2012 movie that was re-released in 2017, is based on the 2006 non-fiction book called "Waterwalk: A Passage of Ghosts" by Steven Faulkner.

The book, in turn, was based on a 1996 journey that Faulkner, then 46, took with his son, Justin, who then was still in his teens.

"In 1996, I convinced my son to go on a 1,000-mile canoe trip," said Faulkner as he introduced the movie to the HIT audience.

The author had been in graduate school at the time and explained that he "needed a thesis." He also thought that his studies and his full-time employment had interfered with his ability to spend time with his son.

Hence, the father-son team decided to follow the same route as that taken in 1673 by Father Jacques Marquette, a French explorer and missionary, and Louis Joliet, a French-Canadian fur trader.

Faulkner said that he and his son traveled from St. Ignace, Michigan, to St. Louis, Missouri, moving along the shoreline of Lake Michigan to Green Bay, the Fox River, the Wisconsin River and - ultimately - the Mississippi River.

The movie also traces the journey, the dangers they faced and - on a lighter side - the many characters they met along the way.

During a meet-and-greet before the film, Faulkner explained to the Globe some of the highlights and takeaways of the trip.

"The scariest part was when we were in Appleton (Wisconsin), and our canoe got swept over," he said. "My son and I just barely managed to get to shore."

He estimated that they "were probably 60 seconds from death" and recalled that his son "pulled me out of the water before I went down."

Despite the ordeal, he said they continued on their route.

"We were only 300 miles into our journey," said Faulker, "and I really did not want to stop at that point."

One of several kindnesses they experienced along the way was when a journalist in the Appleton area put them up for the night.

Faulkner said that he and Justin also were in grave danger on a couple other occasions: once during a Lake Michigan storm and once when, as he put it, "We almost got run over by a barge in the Mississippi."

Although the trip was exhausting, Faulkner said, "I planned it so we would have one day off each week."

On Sundays, what he described as a traditional day of rest, they spent free time checking out whatever town they were in, eating in restaurants and attending church. Sometimes, he said, they would just "hang around."

Those experiences amounted to additional fodder for Faulkner's literary muse. As a result, he said, "I ended up writing articles about those towns."

His wife, Joy, who was with him during the meet-and-greet session, said that her husband mailed her regular packets with notes and photos.

At one point, Faulkner's camera even swept away, but because it was labeled with their home phone number, Joy received a call from the person who found it.

As for what he gained from the trip, Faulkner said, "I hadn't spent enough time with my son, so it gave us an opportunity that neither of us have ever forgotten."

The desire for adventure also stayed with them. He and his son just went canoeing in the Ozarks this summer with his son's two daughters.

During a Q & A session after the movie, Faulkner noted that the movie was about 90 percent correct, but he emphasized that the book is really the authentic story.

In explaining some of the contrasts, he noted that the movie portrays him and his wife as having a teenage son who is of mixed race and had been adopted. The film also portrays them as having younger twin girls who are hearing impaired.

None of the facts about their children are true, said Faulkner, who told the HIT audience that he and Joy actually have seven kids, none of which are adopted, nor twins nor hearing impaired.

Other differences in fact and fiction are that the movie portrays them using an aluminum canoe whereas they actually used one that was fiberglass.

The movie also states that he attended the University of Michigan when it actually was the University of Kansas.

But Faulkner said that many aspects of the movie were true to his book. For instance, he said that he and Justin had little experience with canoeing before the trip.

"We weren't very good at it, but we learned," he said while also admitting, "We weren't ready for Lake Michigan,"

Moreover, he noted dryly, "I would't recommend the Mississippi for canoeing."

Faulkner described the Wisconsin River as "beautiful," but added by way of contrast, "And then you hit the Mississippi, and it's like an interstate," loaded with boats.

All in all, Faulkner was left with the sense that the rigor of the trip was part of the point.

"You have to be willing to take some risks sometimes," he said. He admitted that he and Justin feared for their lives at times during their journey. "But you know," he added. "those make the best stories."

A similar line in the movie echoes that perspective: "Adventure is an experience that leads to a good story - if you live to tell it."

The 2012 movie "WaterWalk" was directed by Robert Cicchini with support from James Sparling as the associate creative director. The adapted screenplay was written by Richard Harris and Roger Rapoport, and major actors included Ciccini, Chase Yi and Mary McDonald Kerr.

The Faulkners also voiced their appreciation in being in this area.

"This is a wonderful theatre, and we're so happy that they chose to show it here," said Joy.

Faulkner said they planned to see the Apostle Islands on Monday before returning to their home in Kansas.