Movies can depict the sense of freedom that comes with traveling. Films like “Into the Wild,” “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” and the film adaptation of “On the Road” capture the whole sense of freedom and self-discovery that comes with traveling the world by ourselves. But despite the concept of the suspension of disbelief being in full effect in most movies, it’s important to find those pieces of inspiration that speak to us, especially for anybody looking to go traveling. What can movies teach us about the concept of traveling but also what can they not teach us?
Self-reflection and Self-love Can Be Hard to Achieve
Many people in life look at solo travelers as an opportunity to try out a new destination and then to make the leap. It’s something that we are all capable of as human beings. That post-holiday blues is a very common example that makes us feel that we need to start a whole new existence somewhere. These days, the concept of moving to another country is easier than ever.
We have access to infinite resources about that country that give us an insight into the culture, procedures, and even the moving. Plenty of companies like Seven Seas Worldwide provide an abundance of tools to help people get ready for a whole new life. But the whole concept of traveling in movies can fall foul of oversimplification and romanticization.
“Eat Pray Love” is one of those examples that over the last decade has been referred to as the pinnacle of self-discovery and while it’s often cited as an inspirational film pushing many people towards solo travel, it has been criticized for its idealized portrayal of travel and personal fulfillment. What the movie gets right is that we should find joy in the smallest of moments, and while the notion of eating your way through Italy, praying in India, and finding love in Bali might very well be too idealized, not to mention the fact that the character has the financial luxuries of doing this, it’s not possible for people to afford to find themselves in this way.
A movie like “On the Road” might be a better and arguably more realistic portrayal of travel. Adapted from Jack Kerouac’s book, it is all about the ups and downs of learning to find oneself, and the road is both the metaphor for finding oneself on the journey, but also the harsh realities of keeping afloat in these types of environments. Friends and lovers pass by in minutes, and as the concept of travel becomes akin to a force of nature that can chew you up and spit you out, it teaches you a whole lot about yourself.
Age is Not a Barrier
The concept of old age pensioners in movies can be somewhat twee, but “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” focuses on retirees who move from Britain to India expecting a life of leisure but discover this is far from the case. It’s more about accepting the circumstances and finding joy in unexpected places, which is key to a life well lived and a road well traveled.
Letting go of the past is one of the key themes running through the movie and epitomizes how life can and should be lived. There’s an abundance of subtle themes running through the movie such as love and parenting, but we should all remember that the concept of creating a new life at any stage is something we can and should embrace.
Another great example is “Wild” where Reese Witherspoon makes the bold decision to traverse the Pacific Crest trail without prior experience. The personal growth that we associate with travel is something that can often be taken for granted in a movie setting, but this is one of those rare examples where the pain both physical and mental of solo travel is realistically depicted. Of course, the Pacific Crest trail alone is a metaphor for how tough any journey to self-acceptance truly is.
Reese Witherspoon’s character has previously tread a trail of self-destruction, travel is one of those things that in life is incredibly humbling because it makes you instantly recognize your strengths and weaknesses. An incredibly enlightening movie in so many ways because it forces the protagonist to confront herself. This is an excellent depiction of the solo travel experience, regardless of age and obstacle.
Breaking the Monotony of Modern Existence
There are some amazing movies that talk about how the modern world is not fit for purpose, unfulfilling, and forces people to kick out against its trappings. “Fight Club” is one of the most commonly used examples that still endures to this day. Even movies like “Office Space” that may err on the side of slacker culture still accurately portrays the concept of the 9 to 5 job as working for the man and that there’s something far more out there in life.
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” while not explicitly about solo travel, captures the transformative nature of self-discovery through adventurous experiences. Often daydreaming about a more adventurous life when the real threat hangs over him, he has no choice but to embark on an adventure. While not explicitly about solo travel, the fact is this movie captures the need to break away from the monotony.
Life should be an adventure that gives us the power to discover what we’re all about. While it polarized viewers at the time, it can give us that nagging doubt at the back of our minds that we should be doing more. Travel is one of those things that in the modern day can give us a huge boost of confidence in our abilities. We can get caught in the trappings of the modern world because we’re too comfortable.
The monotony of modern existence is something that we’re all more than acutely aware of on a day-to-day basis, and of course, movies are about escapism but can also give us that real dose of inspiration that can push us in a direction that we should embrace. The concept of traveling in movies can be about the obvious such as finding oneself but also about the real truths about understanding who we truly are.
