Into the Wild: Homesick of the Homo Sapiens – Editorial [12th Year Anniversary]

The Story: Into the Wild is based on the real-life incidents of Alex, who leaves the comfort of the society for the truth and beauty of the wild nature. The movie captures his two-year journey layered along with the impact of a broken family on him as a child. He’s a young man who loves being free so much that he runs around on foot among wild mustangs. And cries by the sheer beauty of Caribou (a deer-like mammal) crossing in the wild. His courage to question society, his relentless search for truth and beauty in this world is what all humans crave for deeply. However, most of us are weighed down by seemingly inseparable ties.

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The Magic Bus: Alex’s one goal in Into the Wild – Alaska. The pristine wilderness where nature was still uncontaminated by us (about 30 years ago). He learns the skills he needs to live deep in the snow-covered mountains through the winter. Skills like hunting an animal, making leather products, being content with his self when nobody else is around. When he finally says goodbye to the last person, he’s going to see for three harsh months in Alaska he spots an abandoned bus in the middle of nowhere which he makes his home.

Alex’s determination to spend his time in the wild makes me feel normal knowing that it’s just not me. Nature has been the only place on Earth that life has harmony. Life is free, fair and equal to every individual in nature’s warmth. Something we as a co-ordinated and civilized societies of billions are struggling to achieve in our self-bordered nations. A Tiger cub has the same chances of making into adulthood alive similar to the chances of a Hyena pup. Can’t say the same for us in terms of equality and opportunities.

Alex meets wonderful people hiding in plain sight throughout his road to ultimate freedom. A sweet teenage girl who loves him immediately, a hippie couple that understands his pursuit, a world war veteran who cares for him like a grandfather. And a boss that looks after the young boy like a son. All who try to talk him out of it in their different ways to change his mind about this seemingly suicidal mission of pursuing the beguiling beauty of nature. But that’s what they didn’t get.

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Once you are seduced by its charms, nothing can stop a human from getting back to our old home for he can’t ignore the call of nature even if it means certain death. And in Alex’s case, the damage was already done. The things he witnessed as a child made him start his pursuit. He lost faith in marriage, money, academics, society.

Everybody responds to nature in some way. Be it by raising your hands to the sky for a snapshot beside a waterfall or by making a trip to anything remotely nature like a nearby hill station. Out of the couple million years since there were Humans, we are fairly new to this outside world we call civilization.

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Although the comforts of civilization keep us addicted to it, we must never forget our humble beginnings. I’ve read a saying that “We can never really go back home” because it won’t feel the same. I agree with that. But, that shouldn’t stop us from paying a visit now and then. After all, we learned everything we know by observing nature. Watch Into the Wild on Netflix here.