Tracks (2014)
By Mart Noorkõiv on Sep 21, 2014
Directed by John Curran
Starring Mia Wasikowska, Adam Driver, Lily Pearl, Roly Mintuma
112 min
John Curran’s (The Painted Veil, Stone) film which is based on a remarkable real life story, is first and foremost a visual delight thanks to the amazing camera work. It offers a powerful and breathtaking image of the harsh but beautiful Australian outback, most of which is taken up by endless deserts. Those deserts are the objects of conquest for Robyn Davidson, a restless young woman who in the 70's planned to hike over 1700 miles (2700 km) over the rough Australian landscapes to the Indian Ocean with the help of only her trusted dog Diggity and a few wild camels. For obvious reasons Robyn was not greeted with much encouragement when she told other people about her plans.
The story (which she first published as an article in National Geographic and later expanded into a book) is truly exceptional and Curran has managed to translate it into a moving, but by and large an unremarkable movie which suffers from a lack of catharsis and emotional weight. It feels small and although the main character's motivations and urges are wholly relatable the film doesn’t evolve into something more. Instead of a meditative and introspective feeling I was left with a thought of well, she did that and... A similar story was told in Sean Penn’s Into the Wild (2007) but that film ended up being a more compelling and involving journey.
The real Robyn Davidson
That is not at all the fault of the cinematography or the actors, especially Mia Wasikowska as Robyn. She has managed to become one of the highest regarded actresses of her generation and in this film she cements that thoroughly. She is great and the dog who plays Diggity is great, though animal lovers be warned, there are some really difficult scenes to endure concerning various species. That’s the strength of the film of course, it is entirely honest about its subjects, if unfortunately a bit hollow also. A paradox of a movie.
"I believe when you’re stuck in one spot for too long it’s best to throw a grenade where you stand, and jump...and pray."