Wild (2014)

 

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée

An inspirational film about a woman's solo hike in the Pacific Crest Trail as a way to heal from the loss of a close relative and retrieve the former strength.  Determination to regain control of her thoughts, behaviour and life, as it once was, is what drives Cheryl Strayed, and though she is willing to give up after the first couple of miles and initial struggles, Cheryl keeps moving forward using her past memories and experiences she would never want to relive again.

"Wild" is a biographical story the basis of which is a 2012 memoir written by the same Cheryl Strayed. The main idea of the film is to show that no matter where you stand at some point in your life, you can always change its direction and start a new beginning. For some people, it takes a number of in-depth conversations and some time-off to forget the past; for others - a completely new world has to be created. That's what happened to Cheryl. Considering all the catastrophes she had gone through, Cheryl could not deal with her anymore and she could not accept her weak, apathetic self. That is why taking on the Pacific Crest Trail seemed like a great idea to escape from the reality and build a new Cheryl that is a responsible, strong and independent woman.

Although the story is quite simple and might appear monotonous at first, it does attract the viewer's attention right from the start, as you watch how Cheryl overcomes obstacles and hardships she encounters beginning with blisters and lack of water and finishing with unwanted companions. What's more, despite the fact that the film is about a woman's power and it slightly supports feminism ideas, I believe "Wild" is a story that will appeal to both genders. A man could have been in Cheryl's place, and the film, from my point of view, would create the same effect. It is not restricted to a specific individual. Instead, the film talks about any person and addresses anyone. There are no such demons that cannot be destroyed. Also, it is interesting to see how little does one actually need to survive when in real life we tend to buy so many things, a large part of which are not that essential and can be lived without. We might say that the film likewise emphasizes the fact that our consumer society has gone too far from the natural state and that is the cause of many contemporary problems.

All in all, I must encourage you to give "Wild" a try. Obviously, not everyone will like the plot and find it inspirational or helpful, but what I can ensure is that you will definitely fall in love with the beautiful American nature and picturesque sceneries. I, myself, am eager to hike and spend some time in wilderness as soon as the weather gets warmer. Also, for those of you who want to make your own 2015 Oscars predictions, you might wish to see why Reese has been nominated. Believe me, the producers could not have found a better Cheryl. And one more thing, if you have read the book ("Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail") or want to do it before watching the film, do not be surprised that some of the things have been left out. It is a common practice that not everything can be squeezed into a 2-hour film; otherwise, we would spend half a day in the cinema.

Looking from different aspects, "Wild" is without a doubt a great film, but did it leave me breathless? No. The film did not have that special something (maybe if it had been more emotional, you know, "12 Years a Slave" or "Impossible" style) that would place it on the top, although I still want to watch it again some time, and that's a very important quality.