What is almost as good as getting outside in the summer time? Watching movies about other people getting outside! The outdoors are a great component of so many amazing films available at the library, but there are some films in which “outside” features almost as a character all on its own. These films are different from your standard outdoorsy movie in that they are not necessarily about toughness, grit, masculinity, and hard-core survival, but rather offer softer, more comical, and/or more introspective stories about relationships and identity – which are enhanced by the outdoor settings in which they unfold. Here are three of my favorite movies about being outside, available in various forms with your library card.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople. This film came out in 2016 from sincere and hilarious Kiwi filmmaker Taika Waititi, whose other contributions to film since that time – including Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok – have earned him various accolades and a firm place among the world’s most beloved contemporary movie people. Set in the expansive New Zealand bush, the movie tells the story of what happens when two unlikely companions – a young foster kid named Ricky Baker and an old, gruff introvert named Hector – end up the targets of a crazy manhunt after they are stranded in the wilderness. It is equal parts hilarious comedy and tender examination of grief, relationship-building, and choosing one’s family. It also features a dog named Tupac. This is a must-see, and it is available to be streamed with your library card on Kanopy!
Brokeback Mountain. This one is an absolute classic for anyone who likes tragic love stories, cowboys, or scenic panoramas of the mountains in Wyoming. Directed by filmmaking master Ang Lee and released way back in 2005, and starring acting giants Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, the film has not lost any of its power or aesthetic appeal despite the cultural changes and technical updates to filmmaking that have taken place over the last 15 years. It remains a powerful suckerpunch of a story about friendship and love, American masculinity, and the refuge that outdoor environments can provide from the artificially imposed violence of human society. While the film is only available as a DVD from the library, you can also read the book (by Annie Proulx) it is based on – which is available for checkout as an Audiobook and in hard copy form.
Wild. Starring the incomparable Reese Witherspoon, Wild is the 2014 film, based on the popular autobiographical book by Cheryl Srayed, about a woman who decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail after her life falls apart. Following the death of her mother and the loss of her marriage, Cheryl begins to fall into destructive behaviors, and makes the decision to attempt to hike the Pacific Crest Trail with absolutely no experience. The film documents how immersing oneself – really and truly – in the outdoors can be a restorative experience for someone who is struggling to cope with massive amounts of emotional upheaval and change. Once again, this movie is only available from the library in DVD form, but you can also access the book version as an E-book, Audiobook, or hard copy with your library card.
~ Posted by Hannah P.
Leave a Comment