The great Alaskan adventure in search of freedom

Rating: 10/10 (4 June 2010)

After a exasperatingly long time, I saw a movie which simply blew my mind away. 'Into the Wild' directed by Sean Penn is an outright classic with a staggering story and screenplay. Based on the book of the same title by Jon Krakauer, Sean Penn creates magic by bringing to screen the true story of Christopher Johnson McCandless, a footloose American itinerant who hiked to Alaska on a spiritual journey to find himself. Narrated in a non linear fashion, beginning with Chris in Alaska, the movie sways back and forth between his past and present recounting his life's story and adventures. Chris McCandless, an intelligent young man with rock strong ideals craves for true freedom, trying to break away from the bonds of the materialistic society. He gets a college degree, donates his money to charity and burns some of it later on, abandons all of his possessions, and embarks on an odyssey to Alaska to find happiness. On the way, he comes across people who shape his life as he proceeds to his destination.
The overwhelming fact is that it's a real life story of a man who went off searching for ultimate freedom. In Chris' words, "The core of mans' spirit comes from new experiences". 'Into the Wild' is an embodiment of the rebel in every one of us, who are all trying to emancipate from the bonds of the world in some way. The movie teaches us, in the words of Chris "how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong, to measure yourself at least once, to find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions, facing the blind death stone alone, with nothing to help you but your hands and your own head". Chris' floccinaucinihilipilification of material possessions and wealth, his strong will to face the unknown in the picturesque yet dangerous wildnerness of Alaska serve as huge inspiration for everyone, teaching us along the way that it's important to do in life what gives you real happiness. "If you want something in life, reach out and grab it".
Stand out performances by the cast, great editing, brilliant music and prodigious cinematography that brings to life the breathtaking landscapes of Alaska make watching this movie an unforgettable experience.