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Any Other Movies About Someone Shunning Society, Going Into the Wild?

posted 9 years ago by onefortheguns
18 replies | jump to latest

I'm wanting to know if there's a movie about someone who sees modern day American society unfulfilling, and yearns to prove himself a "real man" and thinks going into the woods with nothing except a hatchet or knife to know if he can live as a sort of hermit in the wild. It's close enough to this story to qualify as its genre, but I can't think there's any other movies like this one!

He told me enough, he told me YOU killed him!

[–] qtjoisu 9 years ago

There's a movie called, "Wild" that has Reese Witherspoon in it. She hiked the Pacific Crest Trail to "find herself" or redeem herself or some crap. In contrast to Chris, Cheryl overprepared with essential items but it shows that she was unfit/untrained for such a hike.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] stevens18 9 years ago

the kings of summer. a very underrated movie

[–] Navihawk 9 years ago

"My Side of the Mountain", 1969. Granted, it's not as "modern" a society as now, but it's the same idea: A boy (10 or 11, I think) abandons his family and society and goes to live in the wild and off the land. It's based on a book (not sure if it's any kind of true story), which I read when I was younger. The movie isn't bad, but definitely dated now.

[–] infracaninophile 9 years ago

"My Side of the Mountain", 1969. Granted, it's not as "modern" a society as now, but it's the same idea: A boy (10 or 11, I think) abandons his family and society and goes to live in the wild and off the land. It's based on a book (not sure if it's any kind of true story), which I read when I was younger.

I loved that movie and saw it several times, and also read the book of the same name by Jean Craighead George, who wrote a number of young adult-type adventure novels with an environmental subtext. The book's story is set in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York (where I spent a lot of time with friends) but was actually filmed in Quebec, Canada, and in the movie the boy is from Toronto rather than New York City. In the book, the parents are supportive of the child's adventure, he doesn't run away as in the movie.

Here's a link to the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Side-Mountain-Trilogy-Far-Frightfuls/dp/0525462694

The film makes major changes to the book but I liked both (and remember the film more vividly).

I'm afraid to see the film again now, though as (sadly) adulthood lessens the magic. I read Thoreau's Walden multiple times in third grade, and often fantasized about an adventure like Sam's (in the movie) but knew it was not realistic. Another book on my parents' shelf I really liked, though it wasn't for kids, was a true story called We Took to the Woods by Louise Dickinson Rich about her family's adventure living in the remote Maine wilderness. I would imagine what it was like to be her son Rufus.

http://www.amazon.com/Took-Woods-Louise-Dickinson-Rich/dp/0892727365

Maybe I'll take the plunge and see the movie again. Better yet, see it with my nephew.

Edited to add link

[–] Superman_Is_Not_Depressed 9 years ago

Don't waste your time with this crap. If you want true wilderness experience movies, watch The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams and the highly underrated and hard to find The Wilderness Family. Screw movies from the last 20 years. The two movies I recommended from a time when man was closer to nature, the 70's, before he succumbed to the prostitution that we know by the name of technology.

Like Matrix, I fight for love.

[–] infracaninophile 9 years ago

You might enjoy Alone in the Wilderness, a film made from the videos a talented wilderness man made of himself and his odyssey living in the wilderness alone for 30 years, with occasional visits from friends or his brother. he was no youngster, either. He was in his 50's when he embarked on this adventure.

You might be able to get it from the public library (I did). There's info about Dick Proenneke and his life here:

http://www.aloneinthewilderness.com/

There's an article and a 10-minute clip here:

http://www.wimp.com/alonewilderness/

There is nothing Hollywood about it, but if you're interested in a true story with engrossing detail, do see it!

[–] froggyandtoadie 9 years ago

Hey thanks for this. I saw this documentary when i was younger (i think on pbs maybe?) and remember thinking how incredible this guy was. I didn't know the name of it, and kinda forgot about it til i read your post. I look forward to rewatching it, thanks for the recommendation.

Also, i would recommend anything with alby mangels. He doesn't necessarily shun society but lives life on his own terms. Dude is boss, and almost always has his faithful dogs with him. There's no better way to travel:)

[–] she-escapes 9 years ago

I would say Into the Wild and Tracks fall into the same genre. A general synopsis of the film:

"The remarkable true story of Robyn Davidson (Mia Wasikowska), a young woman who leaves her life in the city to make a solo trek through almost 2,000 miles of sprawling Australian desert. Accompanied by only her dog and four unpredictable camels, she sets off on a life-changing journey of self-discovery. Along the way, she meets National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan (Adam Driver) who begins to photograph her voyage."

Granted, that makes the film sound far cheesier than it is… but I would easily consider ITW and Tracks as being up there in my top films of all time. Both have intriguing stories, strong acting performances and are beautifully shot. I also feel that Tracks is more *understated* and less Oscar-baity than Wild.

[–] Legendary_Badass 9 years ago

The Beach (2000) dir. Danny Boyle starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

THE MOST ORIGINAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL YOU'RE NOT WATCHING:
http://bit.ly/1pPzoBc

[–] tessany 8 years ago

There is a documentary called Grizzley Man about a man who lived among the Grizzlies in Alaska and fought for their conservation. Might be up your alley, plus it's an actual documentary.

[–] fede_4488 8 years ago

Yes! I love both this movie and Gryzzley Man