Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Mrs. Mann
E3 P2
5/15/08
Translation of Into the Wild into Film
The film adaptation of John Krakouer’s novel, Into the Wild, although heavily influenced
by the author, and the actual events recorded by him, is also recognized as its own artistic entity,
as it does take liberties both by assuming some events occurred, and embellishing others. The
film version, under the direction of Sean Penn, portrays a more all knowing third person view of
Chris McCandless going through his journey, while the book focuses heavily on John Krakouer’s
own feelings to the subject, as he describes his adventure in researching McCandless’. In the
film, many speculations are made in the storyline, such as McCandless’ death by toxic berries,
which until this day, as Krakouer points out, is still unverified, and the inclusion of two eccentric
Swedish characters, not mentioned by the author as a group that appeared to the story’s hero.
Also, while the motion picture glorifies Chris as impeccably sound-minded, and correct in his
life’s choices, the novel allows the reader to build personal opinions by presenting the negative
comments of those who know the Alaskan Wilderness, and the praises of the nature loving
romantics. In addition, one may find it interesting that the typical roles of cinema and manuscript
seem to have been switched, as usually the story told in the form of literature would follow the
protagonist, while the film could be a documentary on the author’s path to find the details of
anoccurrence. Finally, as the novel is completed the reader will describe the tale as interesting
and thought provoking, while the movie tries to reach the more primal side of man, his emotions.