A film with more messages than Hotmail!

Rating: 10/10 (24 January 2008)

This is a noble and intelligent film for the thinking person; a real film about things that really matter. I would even say that this is an important film, and it is quite simply magnificent.
Our hero goes off to the farthest reaches of the Alaskan wilderness, into the wild, to escape from everything; to be alone in nature and to find himself, his true identity and happiness. En route, he is warmly welcomed, even loved by everyone he meets, but turns his back on them all to continue his quest alone. It takes him a long time and many adventures, before his persistence pays off and he arrives at his destination. But he becomes trapped by, and a victim of, the very wilderness that he so ardently sought. He has gone too far down the road of isolation and solitude and he cannot get back.
Eventually, but too late, the realisation hits home that, in fact, living in isolation, we have no identity. Indeed it is only by interacting with others that we are able to define who we are, and find our true self. Human beings are not meant to live alone. We are gregarious by nature and we need relationships.
Like all of us, the main character is flawed and contradictory. He is at once intelligent and naive, brave and reckless, honourable and cruel. In short he is human.
Before he goes to Alaska, he believes that happiness has nothing to do with our relationships with other people. At the end of his time there, he writes in his journal "happiness is only real when shared".
Before arriving in Alaska he tells a friend that it is not good for him to live alone, in isolation, then he goes and goes off and does exactly that himself.
Before leaving, he gives all of his money away to charity, even setting fire to his last remaining banknotes, but then has to work in a burger king to earn enough money to complete his journey.
This is an intensely human film which won my admiration. Although dealing with such philosophical issues as what is real, what is happiness, and our need to find ourselves and give meaning to our lives, Sean Penn (who produced, directed and wrote the screenplay) does not set himself up as the next Nietzsche. No he throws out various possibilities, but leaves the answers open to personal interpretation. He provides the food for us to chew on, but leaves us to decide what we choose to swallow.
If you have ever felt like running away from life, or pondered the question of happiness, then you should go and see this film. Even if you haven't, one day you probably will, so go and see it anyway!
The verdict: a rare pearl of a film, with, dare I say, a touch of wisdom?