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April 1846. The United States are just 69 years old, and 2 families with no experience of exploration, embark on a marathon journey into the unknown. California, at that time Mexican territory, is 2,400 miles away, and travelling by wagon train at 2 miles an hour, they hope to reach their 'promised land' in about 150 days; they don't.

Fated by extreme weather, undermined by human error, ravaged by hunger, two ordinary families are driven to the very edge of endeavour and endurance.

This is their story as told by the survivors...

"Even the wind seemed to hold its breath as the suggestion was made that, were one to die, the rest might live".
Eliza Donner.



Hard Road West is made in a documentary drama style and our aim was to produce a historically accurate film. There are two versions of the film. The Longer version contains more detail of how a wagon train worked and lasts 60mins. The other concentrates more on the Donner Party and runs for 50 mins. Both cover the tragedy in the Sierra Nevada equally.

The film was shot on Sony HDCAM and is ready for viewing by potential purchasers on DVD

UK Contact: email - David Evans
US Contact: email - Dixon Ford

 

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