Grizzly Man and Grizzly Man Diaries

I found it interesting to compare the documentary with the Animal Planet series. Through the footage he utilized and the people interviewed, Herzog portrayed Timothy as mentally unstable. Timothy wasn’t “all there." The things Timothy said and believed about the world were not aligned with what we deem normal, and could even be considered crazy. After reading Documentary Film I realized however, that the opinions I’d formed may not have been entirely my own. Because of how Herzog chose to present Timothy, the film itself shaped the way I perceived the story.

After watching several episodes of Grizzly Man Diaries, I discovered a contrasting perspective on Timothy Treadwell. The episodes show Timothy’s footage that may not have been included in Grizzly Man. Throughout the miniseries Timothy’s diary is read and it is clear he never felt truly home in the human world. Some may call it deranged and delusional, still I can’t help but feel some sympathy for his plight. There was something beautiful in Treadwell’s interactions with the animals. Yes he believed he was one of the bears, part of the fox family, and other rather outlandish things, but it is evident that in a certain way he did form relationships with these animals. How else could he have survived and thrived living in close quarters with a protective mother bear? How could she have let him touch her cubs? How could he have petted and played with the foxes?

Timothy’s life with the animals may have seemed incredulous, but I can relate to his desire to be a part of nature. When I was a junior in high school I went on a camping trip with some friends over spring break. We found a beautiful spot in the mountains and were able to explore streams, hike, and even view some magnificent waterfalls. I remember wishing there was a more profound way for me to experience nature apart from seeing and smelling. In that moment I had never felt more separate from nature, and I was filled with a strange longing. It was a sad realization which allows me to at least feel empathy for Timothy Treadwell.