“Into the Wild” inspires the adventurous side of us all by reminding us that we can change our lives tomorrow.
The film is centralized in the philosophy of transcendentalism, the idea that people and nature are inherently good. “Into the Wild” acknowledges big problems in today's society, and forces you to look deeply for them.
Released in 2007 by director Sean Penn, the biographical film still has major relevance in today’s world, nine years later, by presenting the idea of living simply and appreciating what has been given to you. It’s a film that makes you want to change the way you live and gives you a different outlook on life — and that's why it is so important.
“Into the Wild” tells the story of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), a man who leaves his seemingly perfect life behind to live simply with no restraints in the Alaskan wilderness. He had money, a loving family, a college degree and anticipated going to Harvard Law School. But he came to the realization that he wasn’t living his life the way he wanted. So he left it all behind.
He decided he was living in a sheltered bubble where money meant security, and he hated where he pictured his life going from there. McCandless left because he believed there’s nothing more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. His security made him resent his life.
He believed the core of a man’s spirit comes from new experiences. If he had stayed on the paved path, Chris would have been the same as millions of other people.
But aren't we all just trying to find our way? This film is extremely relatable for anyone who is unsure about their future, or even their present. The movie inspires the viewer to be hungry for new experiences, to get out of their comfort zone and live a life worth talking about.
Aside from McCandless’s message, the nature shots captured in this film are a work of art by themselves. They show the raw, natural beauty that nature has to offer with its vibrant colors and its untouched sounds of the barren wilderness.These shots inspire a desire to get out of your comfort zone in order to experience what is at our fingertips.
The life-changing journey McCandless goes on is not about the destination. It’s the journey of a young man trying to pave his own path in an ever-changing society — a society that is seemingly full of hatred toward other people.
His journey is about the people he meets and the lives he touches on the way. Right now, we're all on a journey to somewhere; everyone we know is a part of it. “Into the Wild” is an excellent movie because it makes you appreciate everything you have and inspires you to go out and acknowledge the simplicity of the world around you.
“Into the Wild” is available for streaming on Netflix.