Darwin

Darwin

Darwin is possibly the strangest town in the world. Thanks to this documentary I have been able to meet the unusual people (all 35) who live in this little village in the midst of the desert in California. I was surprised that they allowed themselves to be so exposed and to tell their stories. The town is very remote. From the sky it looks like a few dotted huts placed in the middle of dry barren rolling land. Darwin has been known as a haven for anti establishment characters.

Many of the habitants tell their story. We learn a bit about their past and why they came to Darwin. What a diverse group. They seek to live in harmony in the town.

The post office is a trailer that opens at 11:00 am in the morning. The lady who acts as the postmistress thinks she has the best job in town. She talks as if she is drugged. Her plain face and long straight hair make her feel as if she is an ‘oddity’. Her story about her son is actually very sad.

Molly and Hank are also plain folk who think that Darwin is the best place to live. Hank tells us of his past bad boy life. She looks as if she hasn’t had a hair cut in years and of course lipstick doesn’t exist. Her daughter who sees herself/himself as a male lives there with his girlfriend. The town is accepting and there is no problem.

One of the residents has the potential for being a fine sculptor. In front of his small house there are two giant Buddhas. He has also made many pictures and sculptures. He claims he has never had an art lesson.

I saw no sign of a store anywhere. Most of the people seemed to drive but there was no sense of where the nearest town might be.

One gentleman laughs when he said there is no mayor. Years ago a lady appointed herself as a mayor but she had died. The cemetery is small and parched but could probably tell a few good stories. The history of the town throughout the years is fascinating. For years it was a lawless town where even the police feared to go.

These people are different but absolutely fascinating. Truth is stranger than fiction. I almost want to go to see this place for real.