The other night, a group of my girlfriends and I gathered together for a movie night. Our gracious host made dinner for us, then we watched “Into the Wild.” Released on DVD in early March, it’s a movie that Sean Penn had been wanting to make for something like ten years. Based on a true story, it’s about a privileged boy, Chris McCandless, who goes off into the wild, rejecting materialism and elitism. He burns cash, gives away his life’s savings and insists that he can survive without money. He rejects the notion that money is power, or, perhaps more accurately, could care less even if it is.
He begins his journey shortly after graduating with honors from Emory University in Georgia. He spends a good deal of time alone, wandering around the western half of the United States, picking up odd jobs here and there, kayaking down the Colorado River (all the way into Mexico), jumping trains and showering via farmland sprinkler systems. He ends up trapped in Fairbanks, Alaska and ultimately has to assume responsibility for his choices.
The post graduate soul searching trip is nothing new. In fact, I chose to take one after college, but my trip had some notable differences. My journey was an organized, university-based trip to Florence, Italy to study art and architecture. Okay, it’s not the same as going into the wild, but it served a similar purpose (without the danger). I was an idealistic young woman who craved more education as well as adventure and independent world travel (i.e., without a parent). While there, I took side trips to places of astonishing beauty like Cinque Terre and Lucca. Those excursions provided plenty of opportunities to ponder, reflect on and write about life. I met so many different kinds of people, from all walks of life. I decided then that I would always be open to other people’s points of view and would respect people, no matter what they did for a living. I learned invaluable lessons during that time. I remember standing on the edge of a cliff in Cinque Terre, absolutely mesmerized by my surroundings and then, an instant later, thinking, “Boy, this would be so much more fun if I was sharing this experience with someone.”
I can relate to Chris’s desire to go to a world where natural beauty matters more than money, and people speak to each other in straightforward, candid ways, never wondering whether their acquaintances are being opportunistic. And I appreciate solitude. I really do. I need it to refuel myself. But I never felt the kind of intense calling that McCandless apparently did. His tortured soul needed to make sense of a world separate and apart from the one in which he was raised. I get that. I just wish he could have found peace sooner. Maybe his story can help other people. That’s probably why Penn wanted to make the movie.
Here are the most important lessons I took away from the movie:
If you’re going to challenge yourself to live in the wild, then spend enough time preparing yourself with courses like NOLS. McCandless was a very bright young guy. The fact that he was relatively unprepared for this daring adventure is a little surprising to me. The first year I can understand, but when you start going into the second year, I start shaking my head a little bit …
It really does matter how you treat your kids. It affects them. For a very long time. In ways you can’t even imagine. (The film suggests that his parents were unaware of (or at least careless about) the impact of their actions on their kids).
Forgiveness is love. It’s criticallly important to our lives and happiness. (I think it was Hal Holbrook’s character that said something like that near the end of the movie). It’s so true. Nobody’s perfect. The power of forgiveness can’t be overstated.
Happiness isn’t real unless it’s shared. (I think that one’s straight from McCandless’s journal and the thought that occurred to me in Italy).
Those are all valuable lessons from a fine movie. I just wish it had a different ending.
Written by SoapB
8 comments ↓
i watched that film as well with my two pre teen ager kids and there were a lot of questions asked. We had a great discussion about life and amazingly, they were all ears and interested…they also have a lot of opinions about the film and shared what they thought about his journey in life. I was just taken aback and surprised, thought this film will bore them to death. I enjoyed this post a lot. Thank you.
Haydee’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
You know, we are always arguing about what is the next rental. I am glad I read this, I remember watching previews when the film came out and wanting to watch it, but have forgotten about it since then. Take it easy!
This is such a beautifully written post, SBM, that is so much more than a Netflix recommendation. Thank you so much for giving me food for thought.
I, too, have been to Cinque Terre but I was able to enjoy it as one stop on my honeymoon. The “Italian Riviera” was my favorite place!
Thank you!
Dan
Dan Leone’s last blog post..My hero
To Haydee:
That’s fantastic. I always love it when films get families talking about new (and important!) topics. Thanks so much for your comment.
To Joe:
Glad to help, dude. Hope you (and your wife!) like it.
To Dan:
Hey, how about that!? Isn’t it just one of the most beautiful places on earth? Thanks so much for your kind words.
I HAVE to see this movie! I’ve been looking forward to watching it for a long time, and you made it sound even better than I expected (in a soul-searching kind of way).
Momo Fali’s last blog post..Just Once I’d Like To Find Some Cash In There
i beleive he was reativly ready to go into the wild and survive. at one point he did try to leave but the fast river stopped him from doing so, as when he crossed it the irst time it was winter so it was a little more frozen, while he tried it in the summer the second time. he survived months their found food until the very end, when he was forced to eat plants. this was the big mistake in his travels, and from what i see the only mistake.
If he had made it across the river he would have most likly survived. he got their and survived. So why not on the way back.
Of coarse his desire for freedom has probably launced alot of people to go on their own journey of self discovery, or the ones who dont understand life.
In life i can really relate my self to Chris McCandless, now i dont have any plans of running from home and my family, as i do love my family, but everyone in my family cant live without money or spending money, or having the most hightech gadgets, they care alot about material possetions. we live near 3 major cities, the farthest a 2 hour drive, and we seem to go to them all the time. I hate the city, i love living in my town of 500 people, because its not hectic, and no grumpy buissness type people.
for graduation my parents offered to by me a new vehicle and i turned it down, instead im taking a trip across north america. i did buy a vehicle but its really old, and im going to use it to drive across the continent. i have had the plan for years to do it.
my siblings think im an idiot, and so does the rest of my family, but it is going to be a 2 year trip and m gonna love it. no spending time in a hotel either, i got my cars back seat and a tent.
what a book! seriously, what a book! I read it years ago but it remains my alltime favorite.
coolwebmoms’s last blog post..YouTube at its very best…
McCandless’s story is tragic, but then so many people have benefited from hearing it… a couple of years of hitchhiking and camping made a story that now challenges thousands (millions?) of people to reexamine their lives
patrick’s last blog post..Event Horizon
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