Authored by Nigel Allison

One of the biggest lessons of solo travel is finding the balance between time on your own and time in the company of others.

The events of Into the Wild are set in the 1990’s when access to mobile information and communication is nowhere near the level it is today; it’s so commonplace now that it no longer stands out. I’m talking about communal areas in hostels and hotels full of travelers, their faces illuminated by a plethora of devices. Bars with well dressed types sat round a table with their heads buried in their phones, and family day trips where each member sports a different piece of buttonry, eager to deplete their energy and sap their general attention.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m no different. With free wifi available on every street corner, I certainly can’t judge. Though in Into the Wild, Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch) leaves it all behind to seek solitude by slowly making his way to Alaska, forming a series of life-changing relationships along the way.

Into the Wild. Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch) leaves it all behind to seek solitude in the wild.

Directed by Sean Penn, Into the Wild is a film based on the true events which inspired Jon Krakauer’s book of the same name. The film cuts between the time McCandless spends living and learning from those he encounters on his way to Alaska, and the time spent by himself living off the land when he finally arrives.

Once in Alaska he finds an abandoned school bus nicknamed The Magic Bus which he decides to call his home.

Things

In the early stages of Into The Wild, Chris McCandless graduates from college and his parents take him to dinner to celebrate. They offer to buy him a car as a graduation present to which he angrily objects. He rejects the notion of accumulating wealth and material possessions, and makes the choice to live frugally and practically, on the bare minimum he needs to survive and be content.

He is determined to turn his back on the life which is already set out for him. A career, house, car, marriage, children, retirement. He doesn’t want one bit.

Into the Wild. Making the choice to live frugally.

Before he leaves for Alaska, McCandless donates the rest of his savings to Oxfam, burns all his identification, and gives up the lease on his apartment. His parents don’t hear from him for some time so they drive to Atlanta so see him where they find a “For Rent’ sign, and the manager of the apartment explains that Chris moved out two months ago.

We’ve all been influenced in some way by the films we watch, the music we enjoy and the books we read, and Chris McCandless is no different. He finds comfort in the words from his favorite authors Tolstoy, London and Thoreau, and we are privy to the notes left in his personal diary.

Very close to his sister Corine (Jena Malone), who narrates throughout the film, her narration gives us a much deeper insight into Chris’ personality, and the reasons which led to his choice to pursue solitude in Alaska.

Privy to the notes from McCanless’ personal diary.

Chris isn’t just an angry, naive adolescent, he is politically aware and well educated. He wants to live his own life and create his own path. Even if it is one that is less traveled. When questioned about his past, he answers with the bare minimum, or changes the subject completely.

Everyone should have the opportunity to re-invent themselves.

The core of man’s spirit comes from new experiences

Budget airlines and the shared economy have made the ability to travel cheaper than ever before. McCandless doesn’t rely on the help of others to assist with his goal of getting to Alaska – but he’s more than happy to accept it when it’s offered. His journey is more about being open to the unconventional; stowing away on a train, ‘borrowing’ a canoe, for example.

McCandless is mature beyond his years and has a profound impact on the people that he meets on his travels. He plays marriage counselor to the hippie couple Jan (Catherine Keener) and Rainey (Brian H Dierker), and forms a lovely bond with retired army veteran Ron Franz (Hal Holbrook) so much so that he offers to adopt McCandless on his return from Alaska.

While Mr Franz was stationed overseas an intoxicated driver hit his wife and son, killing them both. He challenges McCandless’ way of living and asks what he is running away from. McCandless counters by asking Mr Franz the same thing, urging him to get back into the world.

Forming bonds and relationships along his journey.

Into the Wild

Stunning locations and thoroughly believable acting really bring out some of the central themes we all face growing up in this world, about how you wish to take control of your own life and your approach to it, and about how we should view the world in which we’re lucky enough to travel.

It questions the need for material possessions and whether or not these bring true happiness, and highlights the need to strike that balance between time on your own, and time spent in the company of others.

Inspired by the true story of Chris McCandless, pictured herein.

Into The Wild is a film you can thoroughly enjoy several times over, and if you haven’t yet watched this film, I highly recommend it.

It may just change your perspective on both travel and life.

Nigel left England for India in 2014 and has been exploring South East Asia ever since.

His blog, uneventoast.com, is a place for reviewing the travel films and documentaries he loves, and a way of relating his own experiences around the world. He shares snippets of music and videos he finds along the way.

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