Inspired by the true story of Christopher McCandless played by Emile Hirsch. Directed by Sean Penn in cooperation with the McCandless family, this powerful tale tells the story of their son.

Christopher leaves college and sets out on a journey to find himself in a sense. He gives the rest of his college money to charity, takes only what he needs and heads out. He loses his car in a flash flood and after that he carries all his worldly belongings on his back.

Along the road he meets people from different walks of life and learns each of their stories. He brings a couple back together, teaches a young teen that she has everything to offer, and helps an old man open his heart to love again.

He travels up the west coast into Northern California and then back through Arizona and then Kayaks down the Colorado river into Mexico. That would have been okay but he had no ID because he destroyed it all before heading out on his journey because he didn't want to be found. He talks his way back into the states and hops a train in San Diego and continues his trek.

This movie is so complicated it is hard to describe and I know I am not doing it justice. It is like nothing else I have ever seen and I know it is a book too so I will be reading that as well, as I am sure it is more detailed.

Christopher heads out for his journey into the wild of Alaska. Struggling to overcome a childhood that was less than perfect. His parents had a temultuous relationship. His father was, and still is, controlling of his wife and his children. He has a younger sister and they both suffered years of watching the violence between their parents and the fake front they put on to the world. It was all about success and things and the things are a lot of Christopher is running away from.

An all star cast helps him on this incredible journey. Vince Vaughn plays a business owner who takes a chance on him and gives him a job harvesting wheat. Hal Holbrook is the old man with a tragic story of his own losing his wife and child and as a result struggling with alcholism and then shutting himself off from the world. These people think they are helping Christopher when in reality he is helping them.

Once "Into the Wild" of Alaska he continues to live off the land as he has been, but he stumbles across an abandoned bus that he claims as his own. He hunts small game and survives on that and the rice he brought with him. Keeping a journal throughout the film, we watch him battle his past and his memories as he becomes further detached from reality. His appreciation for the beauty all around him is overwhelming and watching you are really rooting for him to overcome whatever he is struggling with.

A majority of the film is narrated by his younger sister. You get some of the background to go with his memories and slowly begin to understand what he is going through. Although she misses him, she understands why he went away and why he doesn't want them to find him.

I can't tell you more other than to say to watch past the ending...there is a final explanation and if you are like me you will appreciate the irony and understand that it is truly fitting that the moose hunters show up when they do.

Having never heard anything about this film and not being a fan of Sean Penn in the slightest, I am happy my husband brought this one home. One of the best films I have ever seen this one gets away from the 'mindless entertainment' I usually go for and delves deep into the human spirit.

A+++

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age