elevates the soul

Rating: 9/10 (18 March 2008)

This is a straight ace film, never boring and very clean. It truly elevates the soul. The great scenery is well captured. There was a scene where people were singing country songs, you could almost "smell" the aroma of the open air gathering. Running away from family and conventional society in search of one's identity and aim in life is by no means a new theme, but the authenticity of the story and the director's deep understanding of his work never makes you board. The didactic element is spelled out clearly because "Chris" came to the conclusion that "happines is real only when shared". While people may have virtual names and characters in today's cyber space; while we may sometimes shrink inside ourselves or run away from our surrounding conditions; this film comes to say: live your own life, no disguise no running away, be surrounded by people because this is what life is all about, sharing happiness. The performance was amazing. But the most important thing is that ,since it's a true story, it's a tribute to the young man whose adventures made him realize that life is simpler than it seems to be. Just ask yourself if you can burn the little cash you have and go out on the road, think if you can resist physical temptations when the opportunity arises. can you abandon everything and go out and look for the meaning of life? Shooting the moose without being able to feed on it was the biggest tragedy of Cris's life. How guilty does that make us feel. We only realize the importance of food towards the end of the film. Thanks for all involved in the making of this wonderful work of art. Actually what makes this biography an excellent work of art is the director's successful use of flashbacks, thus getting away from routine and melodrama.