Green FF: Call Me Mule + Restoring the Spirit of Place

Call Me Mule

Director:John McDonald

John Sears, who refers to himself as Mule, has been roaming the western United States with his three mules for over thirty years. The 65-year-old and his animals sleep outside, claiming the right to move freely. Bemoaning the loss of open space, urban sprawl and our dependence on the automobile, Mule advocates a simpler way of life in harmony with nature. While many appreciate his nomadic lifestyle, Mule is not welcome everywhere. His confrontations with law enforcement have resulted in fines, arrests, even institutionalization. His story may be unusual, but it has universal appeal, celebrating the creativity, courage and resilience to choose an extraordinary way of life and defend his place in the world. This observational documentary, told in Mule’s own voice, follows his neverending journey.

Runtime:76 minutes

Restoring the Spirit of Place

Director:Jerry van de Beek, Lara Tomov, Nick

This is the story of wildlife passages along Highway 93 which runs through the Flathead Reservation and the work of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai (CSKT) tribes to support coexistence along human and wildlife corridors. The CSKT pushed for a “context-sensitive design of the expansion of Highway 93” to take into account the surrounding mountains, plains, hills, forests, valleys and sky. This includes the paths of waters, glaciers, winds, plants, animals and native people. The CKST call this approach “Spirit of Place”.

Runtime:12 minutes

Presented as part of Green Film Festival of San Francisco.