Six novice riders—father, sons, and friends—head into the Colorado backcountry on BMW F800GS adventure bikes to create an exploration about life, meaning, and the longing to be part of something epic that lies in every human heart. The gorgeously shot 90-minute piece—an entry in this year’s Overland Expo Film Festival—premieres in a one-night Fathom Event in select U.S. movie theaters on Thursday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. local time. The evening includes an exclusive panel discussion with the cast. More details available at www.astoryfilm.com.
“A Story Worth Living” follows author John Eldredge, best known for the New York Times bestseller Wild at Heart, on the ride of a lifetime with his sons Sam, Blaine, and Luke; and two friends, the author and psychologist Dr. Dan Allender, and Jon Dale—the only one of the group with any off-road motorcycle experience. An exhilarating adventure narrative, it captures the highs and lows of dual-sport riding, including a bone-breaking crash on Engineer Pass.
Covering one thousand miles in eight days, the group traversed the Colorado backcountry, over river crossings, through mountain passes, on gravel trails and winding highways, and up a heart-stopping sheer climb that had the bikes hanging off the side of a cliff. None of the group had ever before undertaken anything this “wild, foolish, beautiful, and bold,” as Dan Allender describes it. The trip was a time of self-discovery, danger, triumph, and joy for the men, who range in age from 63 to 21.
“Our culture has lost touch with what adventure even is,” says John Eldredge. “In this day of Red Bull over-the-top adventure videos—guys doing triple backflips on motorcycle—we’ve lost touch with reality.”
The men were looking for more than adventure, however. They were looking for a story. The human longing to be part of an epic story is why adventure is so popular, Eldredge points out. He and Dan Allender, both counselors, spend their days helping people understand their stories. During the trip, conversation touched on love, beauty, loss, and shame—all elements of the story each person lives, and of the bigger story we’re all part of.
Inspired by the Ewan McGregor-Charley Boorman motorcycle travel series “Long Way Round,” the Eldredges dreamed up the idea of exploring their home state of Colorado by motorcycle. Produced by And Sons Magazine, an online magazine founded by the younger Eldredge men, and Ransomed Heart, an organization dedicated to helping people discover their true hearts, founded by John Eldredge, “A Story Worth Living” is a vivid “best of Colorado” feast with sumptuous footage ranging from the Sand Dunes through ranch country to the famous high backcountry Alpine Loop outside Ouray.
“A Story Worth Living”
Written and Narrated by John Eldredge
Directed by Erik Ticen
In association with California Road Studios
Release Date: May 19, 2016
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