by Chloe Samson
Into the Wild, 2007
The plot is based on the true story of Christopher McCandless, a college graduate who renounces the values of modern life and travels to Mexico and America. He transfers all the money from his affluent parents to charities, while he moonlights at odd jobs and learns how to survive. It was filmed in the same places where Chris stayed during his two years of wandering: Nevada, California, Colorado, and Alaska.
And while the drama is accompanied by incredible North American scenery, the film’s message is quite unsettling. But let’s avoid spoilers. By the way, the film was directed, written and co-produced by Sean Penn.
The Darjeeling Limited, 2007
Wes Anderson is known for the aesthetic design of his films. Before going headfirst into set interiors, the director made a true adventure film with all its components: wild scenery, a long road, and drama along the way.
The film is about three wealthy brothers who embark on a train journey through India. They last saw each other about a year ago at their father’s funeral, and now they are trying to regain their familial closeness and travel to their mother, who runs an Indian monastery. Most of the scenes are shot in the Indian city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan. A must-see if you are planning a trip to India.
The Painted Veil, 2006
Shanghai, 1920s. A couple of newlyweds from Britain arrive in China during a cholera epidemic. Edward Norton plays the doctor and Naomi Watts plays his unfaithful wife. The family drama unfolds against the backdrop of the then undeveloped Chinese city, colourful provinces and the coast of the East China Sea. The locations were the outlying districts of Shanghai and the ancient city of Huang Yo. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Somerset Maugham. It was first adapted in 1934, with Greta Garbo in the lead role.
Wild, 2014
The film, starring Reese Witherspoon, is based on Cheryl Strayed’s memoirs. In 1995, she embarked on a 1,700-kilometer trek across the Pacific Crest to cope with her drug addiction and get over her divorce. Her route began from the Mojave Desert near Los Angeles, stretching across California and Oregon, ending at the Bridge of the Gods in Washington state. The film shows the far reaches of the Pacific Coast, from the Mexican border to Canada.
Melancholia, 2012
Lars von Trier’s apocalyptic film is set in western Sweden. Melancholy Kirsten Dunst marries her lover, quarrels with her sister and languishes in anticipation of the end of the world. Von Trier, by the way, was inspired by his own depression.
The main location of the film is Chuleholm Castle, built in the Tudor style in 1904. The hazy Scandinavian landscapes add drama to the approaching disaster that will kill all of humanity.
