Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa (2008)

There is nothing flashy about this documentary, and refreshingly so. Rather, it's about people: young, old, learned, not-so-learned and others. As disparate a group as this may appear to be, it really is made up of like-minded individualists.Some know why they are there, and others really do not. But they all seem to be there for basically the same reason: freedom, whatever that means to them.Overall, I found it a good investment of my time, and a story worth telling.P.S. I would love to have the filmmakers do a follow-up. This, to me, would be of immense educational and human value.

It's mostly the desire to be free ... free from big powerful institutions ... especially government. That's why many of the some four hundred residents live in this isolated spot in New Mexico. But life is hard ... because it's physical. You have to haul in your water, haul out your trash, chop your own firewood. There is no electricity or running water.The population consists of a hodgepodge of disillusioned military vets, older people looking for peace, teenage runaways, and middle-aged hippies. Children are home schooled. Some food is grown or raised, and some is brought in from free food banks. When you want to take a bath you go to the river five miles away; instead of soap, people wash themselves with mud.Community problems get resolved by a meeting of elders. The only real law is "be a good neighbor; otherwise, you're not allowed to be here", says one man. Guns are the choice of defense, and residents proudly show them off.In this one-hour documentary, with fine visuals and reasonably fine sound, the viewer gets treated to an alternate lifestyle, one that most Americans would be physically unfit for, or too emotionally fearful to try. It's to the credit of these modern pioneers that they can survive and presumably be happy.On the other hand, one could argue that although some may indeed choose to live this way, some may do so out of necessity because they do not have money. Ironically, these rural survivalists are not unlike heavily in-debt urban consumers in that both groups are living for today, giving little or no thought to their lives twenty or thirty years from now.Still, for those who actually choose to live a rural survivalist life, it's clear that they have literally given up on modern American institutions and pop culture. That they live their dream is commendable. I'm not sure that I could do what they do. But their stories are fascinating and inspiring.

Many people out there have this urge, a wonder, a desire, to leave society as we know it. To live off the land. To revert back into a way of life that's just more, simple. But then there's a very loud voice telling you that it's not the right choice. And you wouldn't even dare consider voicing this idea to your friends and family. This is where a lot of the people that live on that Mesa in north New Mexico differ from us. They have just, had it.The walk of life that lives here are a mish mash of mostly sad tales when it comes down to it. The majority of them are people that have simply lost patience and hope for their daily life, war vets, and runaways. And when it comes down to it, this is a perfect idea and spot for them to reside. It's difficult and kind of extreme, but with a mainly peaceful community that abides by good morals and sticking to their guns (literally), it's entirely functional.The elements, the government and themselves are their own enemies. Young runaways that live on the mesa known as the Nowhere Kids threaten the peace of the community, the government threatens their freedom, and the elements threaten their health. But with such a steadfast and happy community at it's core, they continue to persist with smiles.Off the Grid delivered an informative, in-depth, emotional peak into the unique way of living that the people on the mesa experience. At it's bare bones it seems like it's "a film about f@ck ups in the desert", and at times seems like it's also the modern wild west. But more than anything it's a fascinating peek into an unknown way of living, fueled by the unique characters involved.

This film touched me more than I expected. The description spoke of it being an "extreme experiment in American living". Although that drew me in, I was much more taken by the people that live on the Mesa. They are a group of people who choose to live away from the stress of American cities, and who respect and look out for each other. They live communally and everyone helps one another. This community accepts people for who they are, and they accept runaway teenagers and other people who are searching for an escape from city life, peace and a place where they can be free. I grew to really appreciate and enjoy the people in this film and was left feeling like they are enjoying something that I will never know: true peace, acceptance and understanding from others.