Wild (2014)
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A woman embarks on a solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail to rediscover herself after a period of personal turmoil.
The story
In June 1995, Cheryl Strayed leaves her life in Minnesota behind to hike the Pacific Crest Trail despite having no prior experience. The journey serves as a means to process the trauma of her mother's death and the subsequent personal struggles that led to the collapse of her marriage. As she treks through the wilderness, she reflects on her past and the memories of her mother. The film follows her physical and emotional journey as she attempts to rediscover her identity while navigating the challenges of the trail, from the Mojave Desert to the mountains of the West.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In June 1995, Cheryl Strayed begins a solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail to cope with the loss of her mother and the resulting personal turmoil. Starting in the Mojave Desert, she faces early hurdles like improper equipment and fuel. Along the way, she meets various people, including a farmer named Frank and a hiker named Greg, who helps her navigate the trail's challenges. Her journey takes her through the desert, into the mountains of Oregon, and eventually to the Bridge of the Gods. Throughout the hike, she reflects on her past, including her marriage and her mother's death. The film concludes by revealing that four years after the hike, she remarried and had two children, naming one after her mother.
- First release year
- 2014
- Runtime (minutes)
- 115
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jean-Marc Vallée
- Writers
- Nick Hornby · screenplay
- Genres
- biographical; adventure; drama
- Themes
- self-discovery; grief; recovery; mother-daughter relationship
- Tone and mood
- reflective; intense; raw
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; road movie; survival; hiking
- Source material / true-story basis
- Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (2012)
- Content notes
- substance abuse
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and was a box office success.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 88% · scale: percentage · review count: 280; Metacritic · score: 74 · scale: 100 · review count: 47
- Awards and nominations
- Best Actress · Academy Awards · nomination; Best Supporting Actress · Academy Awards · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's budget was $15 million and it grossed $52.5 million.; Danner Boots recreated the boot featured on the cover of Strayed's book.; The Bridge of the Gods saw increased traffic and higher tolls after the film's release.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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