A thorough and sensitive feature-length examination of Willard Kitchener MacDonald’s life and final days in the backwoods of Nova Scotia. This warm and celebratory documentary weaves interviews with friends, neighbours and public figures (former Premier John Hamm, MP Bill Casey) who themselves were fascinated by the tough, intelligent World War II deserter who jumped from a troop train to avoid the necessary killing involved in modern conflict. With an involving acoustic score by Randy Bachman—who also narrates—Willard: The Hermit Of Gully Lake is fitting tribute to a man who lived his life his way, by himself, for more than half a century.