“Into the Wild”, my most favorite movie, is a 2007 film directed by Sean Penn and based on the true story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who ventured into the Alaskan wilderness in search of adventure and solitude. The film stars Emile Hirsch as McCandless and features an impressive cast that includes William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden, and Vince Vaughn.
The movie tells the story of McCandless’ journey from his privileged but unhappy life in the suburbs to the remote Alaskan wilderness, where he hopes to find meaning and purpose. Along the way, he encounters a number of challenges and makes a number of decisions that ultimately lead to his untimely death.
One of the standout features of “Into the Wild” is the stunning cinematography, which captures the beauty and majesty of the Alaskan wilderness in all its glory. The film also boasts excellent performances from its cast, particularly from Hirsch, who delivers a powerful and nuanced portrayal of McCandless.
The movie touches on universal themes such as the search for meaning and purpose in life, the desire for independence and self-discovery, and the challenges of navigating the complexities of human relationships. These are issues that many people grapple with at different points in their lives including me, and it is not uncommon for people to find resonance with characters or storylines that explore these themes.
Some of my favorite quotes are from this movie.
- “Happiness is only real when shared.” – Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch)
- “The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure.” – Christopher McCandless
- “The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” – Christopher McCandless
- “So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future.” – Christopher McCandless
- “It is easy, when you are young, to believe that what you desire is no less than what you deserve, to assume that if you want something badly enough, it is your God-given right to have it.” – Jon Krakauer (Jena Malone)
- “The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure.” – Christopher McCandless
- “The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” – Christopher McCandless
But I most liked the conversation between Christopher and 80 year old Vietnam veteran and leatherworker, Ron Franz. Ron is a recovered alcoholic and a widowed father who lost his son to a drunk driving accident few years ago. When he first met Chris, he dismis the idea and persuade him to leave the camp because he argues that it is a bad influence. However, Chris believes that the true meaning of life can be found in “the experiences, the memories and the great triumphant joy of living to the fullest extent”. Later Ron admires Chris because of his persistence.
Overall, “Into the Wild” is a poignant and thought-provoking film that explores themes of isolation, self-discovery, and the search for meaning. It is a powerful and moving tribute to McCandless and his quest for adventure and authenticity, and is sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers. 
One day, I will also leave for the life time road trip which will give me the opportunity to experience the self-discovery.
IMDB Rating 8.1