Into The Wild

I've just watched Into The Wild, directed by Sean Penn. I have to admit I spent the first two-thirds of the film multi-tasking like a battery operated rabbit, with half-an-eye and two ears on the television and my fingers and other 1.5 eyes on the computer. Overall, I was a little abhorred by the seemingly self-indulgent and cliched philosophies of the main character, Chris McCandless, a.k.a Alex Supertramp and thus not fully engaged with the story. This story however is a true story and the last 30 mins or so were beyond moving.

I'm left feeling a bit stunned and grieving someone I didn't know but who obviously didn't want to die. If I have anything to say at all it is that Chris McCandless was incredibly brave, right to the very end. But I don't mean to glorify or condone what he chose to do, but that he chose to do it at all is downright brave in my book. I love nature and I love being on my own, but I'm not going where he went. But that doesn't mean I'm not brave.

It's interesting that at the very end, it seems McCandless saw the value in human relationships, even though he'd chosen a hermit's life. I'm not sure how much truth can be verified in the film or panoply of online tributes, but allegedly he wrote HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED as one of his last diary entries. This was most inspiring and horribly tragic.

But thinking about it now, I don't know if I agree. I think in death, particularly if it approaches slowly, having loved ones with you must be a crucial part of letting go and feeling at peace. But day to day I do find and experience real happiness on my own. But that's just me. The brain and perspective is always changing, and surely being on one's own in the Alaskan wilderness must be a mighty perspective shifter.