Tracks (2013, S: Mia Wasikowska, Adam Driver)
06-18-16, 04:16 PM
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Tracks (2013, S: Mia Wasikowska, Adam Driver)
I searched and didn't see a thread on this movie. It came out a couple of years ago, but didn't get a very wide release in the US, and may have flown beneath the radar of most people. I saw it a few months ago and liked it a lot. I recently watched Wild, with Reese Witherspoon, which has a similar basic plot (woman on her own on a long journey in the wilderness), and it reminded me that I wanted to start a thread on Tracks.
Tracks is based on a true story. It's an adaptation of Robyn Davidson's memoirs of when she--as a young woman in the 70s (played by Wasikowska)--trekked across the Australian desert for nine months with her dog and a few camels. A National Geographic photographer (played by Adam Driver in the movie) meets up with her at a few points to document her journey. At the end of the movie they show some of the photos from the original National Geographic story. I've got the memoirs on my long list of books to read.
It's a simple story. Though she does have some support along the way, she still gets into some harrowing situations, as you might expect in such a harsh environment. Like the character in Wild, the woman in Tracks seems to be trying to test herself, to prove something to herself. They differ in most other ways, though. In Tracks, she does a lot of preparation for the journey, and the emotional baggage she carries is of a different nature than that of the woman in Wild.
Wasikowska is excellent, as always. Her character here is portrayed mostly with a quiet strength, which makes the scenes where her emotions rise to the surface very powerful. She's one of my favorite young actresses. Adam Driver's character is a bit awkward, and is used well to lighten the mood a little at times. I like the way their relationship is developed. It's not a romance, but he's a human connection that she needs--even if she doesn't always acknowledge it.
So, check it out if you get a chance. If you've seen it, post your thoughts.
Tracks is based on a true story. It's an adaptation of Robyn Davidson's memoirs of when she--as a young woman in the 70s (played by Wasikowska)--trekked across the Australian desert for nine months with her dog and a few camels. A National Geographic photographer (played by Adam Driver in the movie) meets up with her at a few points to document her journey. At the end of the movie they show some of the photos from the original National Geographic story. I've got the memoirs on my long list of books to read.
It's a simple story. Though she does have some support along the way, she still gets into some harrowing situations, as you might expect in such a harsh environment. Like the character in Wild, the woman in Tracks seems to be trying to test herself, to prove something to herself. They differ in most other ways, though. In Tracks, she does a lot of preparation for the journey, and the emotional baggage she carries is of a different nature than that of the woman in Wild.
Wasikowska is excellent, as always. Her character here is portrayed mostly with a quiet strength, which makes the scenes where her emotions rise to the surface very powerful. She's one of my favorite young actresses. Adam Driver's character is a bit awkward, and is used well to lighten the mood a little at times. I like the way their relationship is developed. It's not a romance, but he's a human connection that she needs--even if she doesn't always acknowledge it.
So, check it out if you get a chance. If you've seen it, post your thoughts.
