"You admire the man who pushes his way to the top in any walk of life. While we admire the man who abandons his ego."
These lines from the movie "7 years in Tibet" always reminds me how I should lead my life. Whenever I travel, whenever I do some thing I love, whole idea of doing the thing is pure passion. But while doing those things, I make sure that I put my ego beside. Travel has taught me so many things but it really takes a lot of energy for anyone to come out of their comfort zone. Some times reading books inspire you to follow your passion and some times the movies. Here I have mentioned few movies which are of great inspiration to me and has changed my perception about travel.
1. Motor Cycle Dairies
This movie is a memoir of Che Guevara, one of the greatest revolutionary who still inspires millions of people. You find people wearing his T Shirt as a symbol of youth. Whether to believe in the style of revolution Che followed was secondary for me while watching this movie. I wanted to know what inspired Che to fight for the cause and poor. Definitely this is one of the best movie to inspire people to travel.
The way South America is shown in the movie and the way my favorite author Tejaswi has described South America in his work, one day I would like to explore this part of the world. He covered Amazon forest, Andes Mountain , Atacama desert, Incan ruins in Peru. These are the places any traveler dream to cover. Most beautiful part was how the movie depicts his transformation and how he fights for equality in the society. Even after being an Asthama patient, the scene where he crosses the river to reach the river side where leprosy patients are staying will give you goosebumps. I could relate how travel transforms people. If travel doesn't liberate you from element of hatred, then you have not traveled properly. The whole idea of travel is to find your positivity. Cinematography is amazing in the movie.
2. Way Back (2010)
Poorna Chandra Tejaswi's Mahapalayana novel revolved around the same story, this movie is picturized. Way Back revolves around few prison breakers who are captured by Communist Russian regime and kept in Siberia. The whole Siberia looks amazing in the movie which can inspire people to travel to Siberia. They will walk more than 6400 km to cross the Siberian boarder, Gobi Desert, Tibet and Himalaya to reach India. The adventure looks very inspiring with the search for water in Gobi Desert, the survival in freezing temperature in Siberia and the gigantic mountains of Himalayas and escape from communist regime. Since I have read the novel in Kannada, it easily connected with me.
3. Into the Wild
This should be the most inspirational budget travel movie of all time. Since it is based on real life incident makes it more inspiring. While every one looks to explore the self while travel, people realizes their mistakes and want to correct them. The powerful screenplay and direction, powerful performance from lead actor Emile Hirsch is the positive point of the movie.
4. The Way
The first 3 movies connected to me because of three beautiful reason, revolutionary, novel and budget travel. But I found this inspiring because lead actor wants to pay homage to his son by trekking to the Santiago de Compostela. I have read Piligirimage by Paulo Coehlo which gives more information about the piligrimage to Santiago De Compostela. That is also one reason I was connected to the movie. But I found movie more inspiring than the novel because of the father-son sentiments, the adventure and the encounter with the strangers and the learning during the travel.
5. Central Station
One of the best movie I have watched in recent time. Along with Terminal , this remains one of the best movie on compassion, human emotions and the relationship with the stranger. Lead actors and director carries the movie on their shoulder with such a simple narration, awesome performance. The movie revolves around a former school teacher Dora who supports her life by dictating letters for illiterate clients and Josue , a son of her one of the diseased client. Even though Dora cheats most of her client by not sending the letters, she takes the boy to a road trip in search of his father. During the trip we could see the positive sides of Dora. The road trip and the turn of events is very much exciting to watch. I had tears while watching the climax scene.
6. Lost in translation
Who will not fall in love with Scarlett Johnson ? Anyone. But the film is more revolved around Bill Murray's powerful performance and screenplay by director Sofia Coppola. An aged Hollywood actor falls in love with a young girl. Both were going through tough times in their marriage. Difficult to understand and connect with different culture, both spends their valuable time together. There is a time we go through tough times and we need someone to share our feeling, we find solace in some company. Traveling with them makes you more comfortable and forget all the sufferings you go through. Though movie tells us about one side of travel to different cultural place, it doesn't focus on trying to learn from different culture.
7. Out of Africa
Out of Africa explores the different shades of Africa, the struggle of the locals under the foreign regime, love and romance and love for Africa. The story revolves around a wealthy woman who moved to Nairobi and falls in love with Africa and the people . She tries to help them. As a first step she started school to educate kids and she wanted those people to be respected equally. The story also has the impact of world war on colonial system. Powerful performance from two of the best actors Meryl Streep and Robert Redford has given justice to the role. Since the movie is based on real life incidents, the story gives you glimpses of Africa during world war period.
8. Wild
This is one more movie based on real life incident. It is based on an memoirs of Cheryl Strayed who goes for hiking along one of the popular trekking path 1100 mile long Pacific Crest Trail. After watching this movie I searched for this trekking route and found many such adventure stories. The path itself is one of the difficult trek route. The whole journey of watching this movie is an amazing feeling. I was literally there trekking along with Cheryl.
9. 7 years in Tibet
10. Tracks
I have fallen in love with every female traveler characters. Here also I was amazed by this movie which is based on true story of Robyn Davidson who decided to walk across the Australian desert from Alice Springs to Indian ocean which covers a distance of more than 3000 km. While every one questions her choice but she decides to stay with her life to find out herself. The cinematography, acting and direction is top notch. The encounter with different people, survival in the desert, compassion from strangers makes this movie one of the best movie on travel. You will definitely fall in love with Mia Wasikowska and also Robyn Davidson. While every one look for Europe as a destination, here I was looking into different side of the globe that made it more interesting.
12. Everest
One of the most adventurous movie I enjoyed. The whole movie is all about climbing Mount Everest. The adventure, tragedy, the ego of the organizers, the difficulties involved everything is picturized in the movie. The cinematography is amazing and since it is based on true incident happened during the storm on the mountain in 1996 which led to eight fatalities, you will be having tears in your eyes. The climb to the mountain is always an exciting but also a dangerous one. It also comes with a responsibility. Tons of garbage has been cleaned in Mount Everest in 2014. Still the garbage has been increasing. The movie makers also should focus on man made impacts on the mountains.
13. Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Life is all about the courage and going into the unknown. The movie takes you to through the unknown areas where a man can excel and when imagination turns into reality, it is an awesome feeling. Walter Mitty who is leading a very boring life dreams about an adventurous romantic life. When his job is in danger he really turns into an adventurer who goes in search of legendary photographer Sean O,Connell. The movie has imagination, adventure, laughter, wonderful cinematography and a beautiful message. Must watch for all travel enthusiasts.
14. 180 Degree South
15. Climb (2007)
Can love inspire a man to climb Mount Everest ? Here is the story where a young man proposes a young lady. Young lady will ask him to prove his worth. To prove his love for the lady, he will go on an adventure to climb Mount Everest without prior experience. When I watched it, it looked like a romantic comedy. Then I realized it is based on the true story. Going against stereotype, climbing the Mount Everest by this French young man is an inspiration to every travelers.
Apart from these two movies, honorary mention is Terminal and Cast Away though they are not based on travel, it happens during travel. So two of my favorite movies are must watch for survival instincts. Please suggest any movies you liked other than these movies.
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