A departure from what I typically blog on...
Saw movie last night. In case you're not familiar with the story (first told in Jon Krakauer's book), Chris McCandless had an early-life identity crisis. He graduates, burns all his ID cards, calls himself Alexander Supertramp and rids himself of his material possessions (other than his beat-up car and his favorite books). After graduation, he sets out on his great journey that ultimately ends in his death in Denali State Park.
Quick movie review: Well done. Could have done without naked old ladies and a decapitated moose (at least one moose was definitely harmed in the making of movie).
The story is somewhat personal for me. We were Emory classmates (Class of 1990). I didn't know him well, but we had a couple classes together freshman and sophomore years. Chris also wrote for The Wheel, our school newspaper.
While McCandless is an interesting figure today, we definitely had little in common as Emory undergrads, starting with his interest in reading great books about nature and his strict adherence to moral rigor -- not that I was immoral. I just acted like a typical college student.
Now McCandless is the most famous Emory grad from my year. Sad, but that's how immortality works. I am more inspired by Woody Allen's approach: "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work...I want to achieve it through not dying."
There are two parallel stories told in the movie: McCandless' great adventure and his poor relationship with his parents.
The movie starts with our Emory graduation ceremony, which is a picturesque setting on Emory's quadrangle. Sounds of bag pipers and the presence of dignitaries elevate the moment, mostly for parents. Most students, including me, are hung over. But, Chris McCandless was plotting his great escape or great adventure, depending how you interpret his motives.
When I first heard of Chris' death, I am pretty sure I hardly mustered
any sympathy. Why would anyone want to be so isolated from society? At the end, the moral of the story is Chris was wondering the same thing.
Chris life ends tragically, but he writes in his last journal entry (quoting Doctor Zhivago), "Happiness only real when shared." The movie ends with the now-famous photo of Chris smiling in front of the bus. Eerie.
Comments