MAN or MOUNTAIN
Defying evacuation, legendary Mt. St. Helens Lodge owner, Harry R. Truman, spends his final hours cascading through memories of a storied life beneath an active volcano. Will cataclysm prove his notorious denial tragically wrong, or forge his legendary status in a blaze of glory?
A historical narrative that calls to question defiance and loyalty in the face of disaster, through the lens of a Northwest legend.
Before Mount St. Helens unleashed its fury on May 18, 1980, one man refused to leave. ‘MAN or MOUNTAIN’ imagines Harry R. Truman's final morning in the hours before the historic eruption decimated his cherished world.
An intimate character study reveals a complex man — a World War I veteran and a grieving widower — behind an infamous persona of defiance and denial. Sequestered from the mounting hysteria, Truman reflects on a life lived without regret, as growing tremors force a final surrender. Facing his mortality and cavalier promise to stay at all costs, a man becomes one with all he treasured most.
Film festival selections to be announced in 2026.
‘Man or Mountain’ is currently being submitted to Oscar-qualifying festivals for a 2026 World Premiere in the United States. We’re very excited by the prospect of screening this visceral film alongside outstanding company.
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![Director Collin Monda and Director of Photography Chris Koser map out the final sequence.]()
Director Collin Monda and Director of Photography Chris Koser map out the final sequence.
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!['Man or Mountain' was filmed at Mineral Lake Lodge near the base of Mt. Rainier.]()
'Man or Mountain' was filmed at Mineral Lake Lodge near the base of Mt. Rainier.
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![The production crew capturing historic reenactments of broadcast news interviews with Mr. Truman.]()
The production crew capturing historic reenactments of broadcast news interviews with Mr. Truman.
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![Producer Ashley Monda slating the start of a flashback sequence.]()
Producer Ashley Monda slating the start of a flashback sequence.
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![Monda and Koser capturing the VFX plate for the eruption sequence.]()
Monda and Koser capturing the VFX plate for the eruption sequence.
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![Monda collaborating with Northwest band, Massy Ferguson, to create the film's score.]()
Monda collaborating with Northwest band, Massy Ferguson, to create the film's score.
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![Actor R. Hamilton Wright looks out at his character's beloved Spirit Lake.]()
Actor R. Hamilton Wright looks out at his character's beloved Spirit Lake.
