Into the Wild - Flashback Scenes

Complete a reading of the sequence exploring its place in the film. You should describe, explain and analyse its significance in the film. You must use examples to support your examples to support your arguments

The scene shows Alexander travelling, but with a narration by his sister and flashbacks of photos. His sister talks about how his father was secretly still married to his first wife, and had had another son after Alexander had been born. Flashbacks of photos are show of Alexander and his sister young, and she spoke about how their parents were hiding his father’s secret family. This caused Alexander confused, and angry, and pretended he didn’t know with his sister. It’s a very significant scene as it shows parts of Alexander’s young life, starting with a flashback of him being happy, washing his car after he just bought it, and basically being a bit silly. Another very prominent part is when his sister states “it completely changed his childhood” as Alexander buries old books he was taking with him, just as he buried his old life, showing a split effect.

Into the Wild - Points and City Scene

How does this scene fit into the film?

- Shows he doesn’t fit into society, after seeing if he did.

- Show his change as a person

- The city (at night) gives off a bad impression to him. Its dirty, violence, loud.

What would it be like without it?

- If the scene was extracted from the scene, his change in personality would be missing. It shows how he tried to enter society, get a room at a homeless shelter etc

- You would have wondered why he didn’t go back to society, as he flashed back to reality at his death.

Why is it so important?

- It shows how he doesn’t fit in, how his attempt to re-enter society gave him a bad impression, showing a reflection of him in society and what his parents wanted

The scene shows Alexander Supertramp (Chris McCandless) re-entering society, by visiting a nearby city. He tries to fit in, visiting a homeless shelter and staying there. Realizing the city is violent, abusive and loud; he sees himself what his parents wanted him to be, rich and successful. The wilderness is more accepting, and he quickly leaves to return. This is a significant scene, mainly the part of envisioning himself in the bar, as his successful self “belittles” him but doing a demeaning hand jester towards him, showing how more successful he is. He is lonely, society, where people are, is not accepting as much as the wilderness, as much as he missed it. All the shots show as he walks through the city are negative, bad aspects of the city. The music is slow and sharp, with frames abruptly stopping and freezing on something, or quickly cutting away to a different part. At the beginning of the scene, where Alexander emerges from the small pipe, it’s more of a drastic rebirth, the first thing you see on the walls is graffiti, the city is a dull chrome and Alexander is skinny, dirty and weak. What he hopes for is acceptance but his eyes don’t see it

Review on "Into the Wild"

Review on “Into the Wild”

Though I missed out on the first part of the film, it really captured my attention. The film was different from a normal film; it had random flashbacks and flicks in time, so the film wasn’t really in order. It was hard to pick up, but interesting and unique. Everything pieces together at the end, and even though the main character dies of starvation, it was almost like he wanted to, as though dying in the wild was better then returning. Before dying though, he had an image of his family; of him returning to them as if he never got poisoned, like a sort of release. The whole movie is narrated by his sister, so it’s all pointing towards to direction of his death during the start, as if he had lived he would be narrating himself. This gives the audience the edge, basically telling him he dies (and people knowing the story would know anyway). The film is a maze of memories, directing you to the final path, but at the same time drawing you into his world and hopelessly wishing he survives.

Apple Scene

In the apple scene, he states “you’re the best apple ever”, implying it’s the best thing that’s happened to him, like a new beginning. Every time he takes a bite, it changes to a new statement, with the apple getting smaller each time, slowly stating how good it is. He is seeing everything all over again, with new eyes, like being reborn into the world. He’s not surrounded by his old life; he can admire the beauty around him and fully see it. Everything is uplifting and new