Into the Wild

Into the Wild may be one of the year’s most inspiring yet gutting films.

Into the Wild is based on the true story of Christopher McCandless, who grew up in a wealthy suburb of Washington, DC but after graduating from University in 1990 chose to venture ‘into the wild’ on a journey of self-discovery.

Choosing to turn his back on his privileged life 22-year-old Christopher (Emile Hirsch) stops communicating with his family and gives away his savings of $24,000 to the charity OXFAM. He begins travelling around the USA; however, Christopher’s adventure is less about exploring the world and more about better understanding himself and his place within this world.

Christopher’s journeys take him from the wheat fields of South Dakota, down the Colorado River, and to a non-conformists refuge in Slab City, California. The different individuals Christopher encounters each expand and refine his understanding of the world.

Christopher comes across as an idealist by turning his back on the ways of the world. Christopher picks away at the conventional lure of money, ambition and comfortable suburban family life. As he peels it away and steps into the wild he struggles between the freedom of rugged individualism and the need for community, family and friends.

In turning his back on the superficiality of this world, Christopher’s behaviour might seem somewhat inspirational to the modern western Christian. I know I felt uplifted as he donated all his money to charity, or as he took the bold step into a journey of self-discovery and a quest for the meaning of life. I suspect most humans at one time or another contemplate such a profound break with the busy-ness of society and wonder at what opportunities might then present themselves.

In fact, the words of Jesus in Luke 14 almost call for such a bold move. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple.”

Of course, these words must be understood in context. In fact, in the two years Christopher was missing, he never once let his worried parents know where he was. Surely the commandment to honour your father and your mother includes staying in touch and giving them comfort in such distress.

More importantly, we are relational beings. God’s people, the church, are defined as a community. As it is written in Hebrews 10, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.” As Christians, we have an obligation to our community and to our family in both a spiritual and physical sense. The behaviour of Christopher is brimming with potential, but at the same time, extremely selfish.

One man Christopher encounters inhabits a hill entirely covered in biblical quotes and Christian slogans. While the gospel is crudely presented in this form, the man leaves Christopher with no doubt that he genuinely believes Jesus loves all people and wants relationship with them.

Another father-like figure that Christopher encounters urges Christopher to let go of some of the wrongs he feels has been done to him by his parents. “When you forgive, you love, and when you love, God’s love shines on you”. Christians can certainly embrace this gospel truth that mirrors the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you”.

Christopher never really chooses to rely on God or pursue the person of Jesus for himself. Christopher’s journey is very much one of self-reliance. In fact, Jon Krakauer who wrote the non-fiction best seller Into the Wild, upon which this film is based, says, “Christopher was not an ordinary kid. He was self-absorbed. He was stubborn. He was impetuous. But he was also pure of heart. He would not compromise. He had these extremely high ideals, this sense of moral rectitude. He believed the purpose of life was not to take the easy path.”

You can see how Christopher’s morality and understanding of the world at times overlaps with a Christian perspective. The idea that there is more to life than ‘stuff’, that there is a narrow path for truly living rightly, that there is value in profound acts of generosity – these are things that Christians can embrace. The trouble is, the evidence of the film shows that despite Christopher asking these questions, he looked for the answers in himself, other humans and the creation rather than looking to the creator.

Into the Wild is Sean Penn’s first feature as a director since 2001’s The Pledge. In adapting this book to the screen, Penn is giving this unique, true – and again I stress, heartbreaking – story the opportunity to reach a broader audience.

The film raises excellent questions, but only gives a glimpse as to what those right answers might be.

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