The wild heart of man

Rating: 8/10 (21 November 2010)

Into the wild follows the true story of Christopher McCandless - an incredibly gifted young man who abandons the material world and burdensome social conformities to embark on a journey of truth and self-discovery. As you follow him across country and a range of stunning backdrops, watching his everyday highs and lows allows the viewer a real intimacy with his character. This intimacy is definitely strengthened by the fact that the movie is based on a true story. It is hard not to experience a whole range of emotions as you watch his journey, and as his push to reach Alaska gathers pace, part of me was left in awe of his sheer will and conviction, while another part of me pleaded with him to come back to the 'real world' and realise his potential. When you watch this movie expect to see a truly unique story, first class acting and stunning visuals, but also expect to be provoked into discomforting assessments of yourself and the world you live in. Do you have the guts to abandon our modern world of material and social constructions in search of truth and self? Probably not; and neither do I. This is what makes Christopher's story so inspiring and exhilarating.
P.S. If your thinking about doing any travelling then this film is a MUST before you go.