Sean Penn
Into The Wild

"If we admit that human beings can be governed by reason, we preclude the possibility of living."

If I had only 100 characters to review this film, I would write this quote by Christopher, heard about halfway through the screening. Because, in essence, this was the creed of the short life truly lived in the USA in the '90s by this boy born in West Virginia and tragically died at the height of realizing his dream.

A very particular, extraordinary dream, that of letting go of everything that is part of human greed, of inner poverty, to enrich himself with true, wild Nature, to live it, to become part of it. In defiance of money and all the ugliness it generates.

Christopher is a boy like many others but with a very pronounced sensitivity, raised in a family where he was given very little love. He and his sister, slightly younger, endured a cold and cynical family environment. He has a wild nature, and this domestic situation exasperates him to the point that, as soon as he graduates, he decides to donate everything his father had put in his bank account to charity, to even burn the cash he had in his pocket, and to run away, wandering, gambling on his own abilities, escaping from "civilization."

Road movie based on a true story, this film stands out for a stunning cinematography skillfully drawn from the vast reservoir of the great North American spaces. Spectacular panoramic glimpses alternate with moments when the boy sporadically frequents the world of the "free spirits," of those who need little to live a simple life. However, he is extreme, living in a camper isn't enough for him; he is a true savage with the ultimate desire to reach Alaska and completely fulfill himself. He reaches the state of Alaska and lives to the fullest into the wild, but will encounter situations greater than himself.

In passing, the drama of a father who understands even more than the mother the mistakes made; the anguish of the sister who understands the rebellious brother but suffers, unable to explain why he doesn't make contact even with her.

Christopher meets many beautiful, simple people, because there are such people in the world, but he is introverted in nature, he gets along well with others but not for too long; he will give a lesson to a girl before setting off for yet another challenge, a lesson he also imparts to all of us: "always remember that if you want something in life... reach out and grab it."

In the end, however, he too will learn a lesson from all this experience: "happiness is only real when shared." And the only thing he will truly regret is not so much having left his family in the dark, not so much having dared beyond his means, but having indeed enjoyed all the wild nature, but in solitude.

A film that teaches a lot, well developed by Sean Penn who adapted it from the book "Into the Wild" by Krakauer, which was written based on a personal reconstruction. Penn was strongly determined to bring this story to film and insisted greatly on convincing the family to grant him the necessary authorization.

Many shots are commendable, non-trivial, and the artists are good. The soundtrack is typical of road movies, reminiscent of American films from the '60s/'70s. Good use of flashback. And all of this, together, enriches a story otherwise hardly attractive for the length of a feature film.

What can be said in the end? That in the civilized world, half the people have a rope tied to their ankle and cannot fly. The other half holds the other end of that rope. But evidently, the world is comprised of an odd number of people because Christopher was the odd one, the only one in the modern western world truly free.

USA 2007

Christopher: Emile Hirsch

Directed by Sean Penn