Into The Wild

I love watching movies. I love snuggling up at night, with a hot cup of tea – especially during the winter. Last week, my boyfriend and I watched a movie that we both had been meaning to watch for ages; Into The Wild.

Into The Wild is a movie by Sean Penn that came out in 2007, starring Emile Hirsch. It depicts the true story of Christopher McCandless, a young American fresh out of Uni who decides to leave society behind (along with all of his belongings) and hit the road. His goal is simple: get to Alaska, and find true happiness in the simplicity of life, all by himself. He meets various people along the way, making friends but never straying from his Alaskan dream. But things sometimes end up being very different than what we’ve dreamed them to be.

I saw the trailer for this movie when it came out, back in 2007. I was in high school then, and it was shown in class by a teacher who wanted us to realize that movies can make you think. I was in love with the movie even before the trailer ended. I related to this young man who wanted nothing but simplicity and truth. I remember thinking: “how awesome would it be, to just take off? Be completely free.” I think we all entertain similar thoughts from time to time... Especially when things get hard, we find ourselves fantasizing about leaving everything behind, just pack a bag and go. Living, without pretense.

Watching the movie, last week, I wondered: “What the hell are we all running after?” What is this dream we all seem to be pursuing? Is it really running after something, or is it plainly running away from what we would leave behind? Once you’re out there, all on your own, with no strings attached, what do you do? For a few days, it must be incredible. Being completely independent, with nothing to do but just... be. But after a while, aren’t you bound to get into some sort of routine? Start over, collect belongings, build a home... Then again, isn’t that what you were happily leaving behind?

Maybe it’s just the journey that matters. Travelling as much, with your eyes open wide and ready for adventure, must be epic. Meeting people from all over the world, seeing landscapes so beautiful you can’t even picture them in your mind, finding joy in the most simple things...

This movie truly made me think. It made me wonder and question myself and the dreams that I had in the past (and still sometimes have). I think that, as humans, we’re all looking for adventure. We’re always looking for something different to do, for something that would be better for ourselves. That’s just how our brain is wired; it’s constantly on the lookout for a better option. But how many of us would actually leave like that, if given the chance? What are we after? And how do we know we’re making the right choice?

I could write 500 more blog posts about the questions that this movie raised in me. Into The Wild is a cinematographic masterpiece, with breathtaking photography. It carries a sense of peace, while challenging your vision of life. It is food for thoughts, just like my high school teacher promised. It makes you wonder about courage, love, freedom, and adventure.

-TM-