I know we’re all about getting out into the world to explore it, but with the restrictions of quarantining I’ve been watching a lot of movies. I recently saw Summertime (1955) with Katherine Hepburn. Given how old it is, I was surprised by how relevant it felt. It’s about an old maid who travels alone to Venice. The main plot is about her falling in love (of course), but what I found compelling was how it really felt like solo travel. Katherine Hepburn’s character has all the anxiety and adventure that I’ve felt when travelling. And the cinematography made me feel as if I was exploring the city.
Before Sunrise is about someone interrailing through Europe solo. The film is about him falling in love with someone in Vienna but they only spend a night together.
It captures the connections you make with people while travelling really well and how intense but brief they can be.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty- not necessarily based around solo travel, but involves a lot of it. My favorite movie of all time - great cast, cinematography, soundtrack, just everything!
Wild (2014) - With the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed has lost all hope. After years of reckless, destructive behavior, she makes a rash decision. With absolutely no experience, driven only by sheer determination, Cheryl hikes more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddens, strengthen, and ultimately heals her.
Into the wild. The story revolves around a young man turning his back on his rich family, money, greed and hitchiking to northern Canada. The film revolves around the people he meets, each one has their flaws and beauties and you’re in for an emotional ride. The overall feeling I get from the movie is very powerful. Best solo travel film in the multiverse my friend. A cult hit, several people have died trying to do what he did in the magic bus. Oh which brings me to my last point. It is based on a real guy.
Tracks. A woman in the 70s hikes through the desert for 2700km from Alice Springs in central Australia to the West coast with her dog and a team of camels.
14th arrondissement is a segment for the anthology film “Paris je t’aime”. It’s directed by Alexander Payne (Sideways, Nebraska, the Descendants) and it’s by far the best short film of the bunch. It’s about a middle aged American postal worker detailing her vacation in broken French. Its unbelievable to me how a 7 minute film can capture the sadness and beauty of traveling by yourself. This hit me pretty hard the first time watching it. Check it out https://youtu.be/Uyy3RCY27E8
Edit: Also Summertime is a great film. I love that Italian guy, and how he tries to get her to explore more of the city; even when she wanted to resign herself to surface level experiences. 14th arrondissement is very similar to Summertime so I think you’ll enjoy it
I really like this movie called Cast Away. Details are a bit fuzzy but I think it’s about a guy who’s trying to fly to Asia but ends up going to some tropical island instead. After initial grumblings about the rough landing, (We all know one of those people amiright?) he decides to make the most out of his vacation. He becomes friends with Wilson, a rotund white guy who always looks like he’s blushing, and despite their constant bickering they become very close. He and Wilson decide to get on some shitty boat in which Wilson falls off and drowns. It’s very tragic.
The Way Back. Kind of a travel movie maybe more of a war movie, but super cool cast and landscapes. They travel though several countries. Description: army officer, sentenced to 20 years in a Siberian Gulag, makes a successful escape with a few other inmates. But they must travel 4,000 miles on foot before they can reclaim their freedom.
Not a movie, but a YouTube series scratched the itch for me. The “See the World” series by Iohan Gueorguiev is his journey to travel from the top of Canada to Argentina solo on bike. Its so well produced and sparse that it almost feels like you’re taking the journey with him.
A Room with a View. I think the characters’ initial dislocation, on vacation in Italy, helped break the social barriers and let the rest of the tale happen.
World’s Fastest Indian - Anthony Hopkins plays an old New Zealander who road trips through the US to try and break the land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats on his restored vintage Indian motorcycle. My favorite underrated Hopkins performance.