Sep 20
Into The Wild
Last night (Friday), lance & i went to the Museum of Art to watch one of their summer movies. They have a great outdoor amphitheater. The movie was Into The Wild.
Sean Penn directs a critically acclaimed adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s best-selling book based on the true story of a spirited, but emotionally wounded young man who seeks freedom, joy, and healing in the great Alaskan wilderness.
First of all, the environment was great. It was a crisp fall evening. The sky was clear. The stars were shining. We found a good spot near the front to put our chairs, and covered ourselves with the blanket we had brought. Before the movie was over, we would be shivering a bit.
The movie intself was great. Emile Hirsch did a wonderful job portraying the young man who rejected a “normal” life and became a drifter. He graduated from college, had a graduation dinner with his parents, then burned his ID, took off from Atlanta and headed west, and didn’t tell anyone. He named himself Alexander SuperTramp, and introduced himself that way to everyone he met. When his car became undrivable somewhere in Arizona, he burned his remaining cash and started walking and hitchhiking.
Alex is in search of experiences, and he finds them. He also encounters several interesting characters and forms unique and lasting bonds with them. The film and the character do an amazing job reminding us that there is a wide world out there that is full of beauty. Alex eventually decides that his path will lead him to the Alaskan wilderness, “the wild,” where he wants to live alone for awhile.
This journey is captivating. I loved this movie. I’m going to try in my life to mimic Alexander SuperTramp in at least small ways, and strive to have more experiences instead of just sitting on my butt.