Grizzly Man: Questions...

Last night I watched a riveting documentary called "Grizzly Man" which is running on the Discovery Channel. For thirteen years, Timothy Treadwell spent his summers living among Alaskan grizzly bears. Treadwell went in armed with just a camera and no backup. The footage that he captured is amazing. What's even more amazing is that quite often Treadwell was within feet of the bears as the rested, fought, and ate. On more than one occassion Treadwell would reach out and touch them.

As I said, the footage was riveting. Knowing Treadwell's story takes it up another notch. You see, he and his girlfriend were killed [and eaten] by a grizzly. The documentary makes this clear from the very start. It also lets you know that the deaths were recorded [audio] but that you would not hear the sounds in the documentary. [You do see Werner Herzog, the man who created the documentary listening to them -- and that is quite enough for your imagination will do the rest.]

Treadwell's story is compelling and Herzog doesn't sugar coat the man. Treadwell had issues, and definitely was a bit off center, but he lived and died doing what he loved. And that is where the controversary begins...

Should he been allowed to follow his dream? Was he violating the law? Was he helping or hurting the animals that he so dearly loved?

I'd love to hear reactions from anyone who has seen the film. "Grizzly Man" rates a B+.