Into The Wild

Sean Penn, USA, 2007, 148 minutes

‘Be true to your work, your world and your friend.’

The words of the Henry David Thoreau were those that were inspiring Christopher McCandless through all his life.

McCandless was definitely true to himself, which resulted in his resignation from the promising future and comfortable life.

He supported Oxfam with all his savings, got rid of credit cards and proofs of identity. This was how he began his 4 year journey across the United States.

Deliberately isolating himself from family and friends, he lived a life of an ascetic, who cherish each moment of his long and varied journey.

That was his way of finding himself in the world. Did he eventually found what he was looking for in Alaskan wilderness? Was he a dreamer, philosopher, idealist, anarchist or simply a naïve young man? That is the question which the viewer is constantly confronted with during the film.

Based on true story Sean Penn’s motion picture, may arise many contradictory emotions. However, one thing can be said about it: It will not leave the viewer indifferent to the story of a man, who decided to take the life in his hands and live it the way he wanted.

Review by Karolina Malinowska
Written for EUFS Programme Autumn 2007