But I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more

If you have ever done trekking, you will know how tedious and painful it can be (blisters and insect bites being the lesser evils). Yes, there’s the beautiful scenery and the stunning starry sky at night. But most of the time it’s just you and your thoughts.

Wild is directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers’ Club) based on the real story of Cheryl Strayed and adapted for the screen by Nick Horby.

Cheryl walk the Pacific Crest Trail (about a thousand miles) on a solo quest to exorcise her demons – she had no iPod for company and the use of music throughout the film is spot on, almost imagining what she would have listened to twenty years ago.

Soundtrack Genius

The movie soundtrack includes gems like:
Simon and Garfunkel’s El Condor Pasa (If I Could)

First Aid Kit’s Walk Unafraid

Wings’ Let Them In

The Shangri-Las’ I Can Never Go Home Anymore

Leonard Cohen’s Suzanne

Billy Swan’s Don’t Be Cruel

Free’s Be My Friend (BBC Session)

Lucinda Williams’ Something About What Happens When We Talk

Portishead’s Glory Box

 

Bruce Springsteen’s Tougher Than The Rest

Pat Metheny Group’s Are You Going With Me?

The Hollies’ The Air that I Breathe

Simon & Garfunkel’s Homeward Bound

Dusted & Eric D. Johnson’s Ripple

Not forgetting the song the little boy sings in the woods:
Red River Valley by Evan O’Toole

Sure, Witherspoon acted her socks (and black toenails) off, but let’s not forget Laura Dern whose character is like sunshine in a bottle.

Highly recommended.

Recommended book on walking