Jul 09 2008
Into the Wild
Into the Wild is the tragic story of Christopher McCandless. His story was first told in the book by Jon Krakauer, and then in this film based on the book, directed by Sean Penn.
First, let me say that Emile Hirsch is absolutely brilliant as McCandless, and the fact that he did not get an Oscar nomination for Best Actor is beyond me.
Christopher lived a privileged life, and graduated from college with grades good enough to get into Harvard Law. But the happy family that his parents presented to the public was a farce. His father and mother weren’t even married when Christopher and his sister, Carine, were born - and his father had another son with his first wife during that same time. Eventually his parents married, but their life together was characterized by violence and anger.
Christopher rejected the materialism and society that his parents personified. He donated the balance of his college fun to Oxfam and left, becoming a “leather tramp.” He spent months on the road, hiking and hitchhiking and meeting a variety of people who helped him on his journey - all the while calling himself “Alex Supertramp,” in rejection of his family and their values.
His ultimate goal was Alaska, and he was dropped off in the Alaskan wilderness in April of 1992. He had a rifle and ammunition, some rice, some books - including one on local plant life, and some camping equipment. He did not have a map of the area or a magnetic compass.
SPOILER ALERT
Christopher’s story is one of self-discovery, but the ending is tragic. If he had taken the simple precaution of bringing a local map and compass, he would have been able to save his life. He experienced many moments of beauty and companionship, but ultimately rejected them for a solitary pilgrimage. In the movie, he is portrayed as saying that human companionship is not necessary to live a joyful life. My husband commented on the irony of that statement, since some of the best things that happened to him during his travels happened because of the people he met. He seemed to understand that fact before he died, writing in his journal that beauty is nothing if it is not shared.
Christopher starved to death in August of 1992. His body was found a couple weeks later by moose hunters. His journal was intact, with 189 days worth of entries. His last written words were “I have had a happy life and thank the Lord. Goodbye and may God bless all.” He signed this entry as Christopher Johnson McCandless.
This film is heartbreaking, but beautifully filmed. The nature and wilderness that Christopher experiences is amazing, and the music and literary quotes that appear in the film were perfectly chosen. Hirsch’s performance is incredible, as is the performance of Hal Holbrook as one of the men that Christopher meets along the road.
