Language : English
Director : Sean Penn
A must watch for every free spirit, every wanderlust ‘Into the wild’ is the true story of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch). Christopher McCandless gave up a cushy life and his lifetime savings of almost 25,000$ in charity, before taking on the name Alexander Supertramp, and becoming a leather tramp (one who goes on foot as opposed to a rubber tramp who uses a vehicle). In his words “I don’t need money. It makes people cautious”. He hitchhikes his way to Alaska to spend his life in the wilderness and en-route encounters many people from different backgrounds and each encounter will mould him as an individual. “If you admit human life can be ruled by reason the possibility of life is destroyed”. His unhappiness with status quo and the lie that he is living makes him give up everything. “So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future”. How true how true. Part of the movie is told in flashback and narrated by McCandless sister who is the only one he confides in. The movie switches between his past and the present and traces the brief life of McCandless. “The climactic battle to kill the false being within and victoriously conclude the spiritual revolution. No longer to be poisoned by civilization, he flees, and walks alone upon the land to become lost in the wild.” Pure poetry. A must watch this one even if you don’t like sad endings, the spirit is happy really.
Thanks to a good old friend for recommending ‘Into the Wild’. Read the book as well.
Sean Penn has directed quite a few other films like ‘The Pledge’, ‘The Crossing Guard’ and the USA edition of ’11’09’01’-September 11′. Hope to watch ‘The Indian runner’ soon.
Useless trivia : Emile Hirsch lost 40 pounds to play the role of McCandless. In the movie McCandless is shown dying by consuming seeds of Hedysarum mackenzii, which is poisonous, which he confuses with Hedysarum alpinum. This is refuted by Jon Krakauer in his book and my reading concurs with him and gives credence to the version that Christopher McCandless may actually have starved to death.
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