Tracks Film Review

Have you ever wanted to go on an adventure by yourself? To go where few have gone before? To leave everything you know behind?

This is what Robyn Davidson did.

She was 27 years old when she left the city to walk from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean.

2700 kilometres on foot.

Alone.

She gave no reason for the trip other than “Why not?”

The film Tracks is based on her memoir of this trek.

With three camels, a camel calf and her dog, Diggity, she set off on the journey that would take her nine months to complete.

The film starts with Davidson arriving in Alice springs in 1975 to prepare for her trip. She had jobs on a couple of camel farms to learn how to work with them, but received little to no pay.

She realised she needed more money to pursue the journey and so wrote to National Geographic. They agreed to sponsor her on the condition that one of their photographers, Rick Smolan, documents her journey,

She was not happy about this, and shows her disdain towards the arrangement in the first few meetings. But after Davidson and Smolan had a brief romantic encounter, their relationship is a lot more bearable with Smolan becoming a strong pillar of support for her throughout her journey.

In 1977 Davidson begins her walk.

Her trek from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean comprises most of the film. The people she meets, she challenges she faces and the joys she experiences are all presented in front of the backdrop of the magnificent Australian outback scenery.

Davidson is played by Canberra-born Mia Wasikowska and Smolan is played by Adam Driver. Both do a very good job of playing their characters. Robyn Davidson said, in regards to Wasikowska playing her in the film, she “couldn’t think of a better actor to do it”.

I was skeptical about the film at first, because when I saw the trailer I thought it would be another cliché story of self-discovery. However, when I watched the film it did not come across as that. This should greatly be attributed to the film’s directors as it does very well in presenting Davidson’s experience on her journey. I felt her joys, frustrations, loneliness and triumphs.

Every person she meets along the way is presented as an interesting character with their own stories to tell. Yet the film never deteriorates from telling her story. The incredible scenery and individuals all add new dimensions to Davidson’s experience.

The directors also put in a lot of effort to tell the story as accurately as possible. Many of the scenes reflected some of the 150 000 photographs Smolan took of Davidson’s trek.

In this clip Smolan talks about the photos he took of Davidson’s journey along with his experience of it.

Overall, film has been well-received. Rotten Tomatoes gives it 81%, and the IMDb and Amazon both give it 7.2 out of 10.

Even Robyn Davidson said she really likes the film.

I would give Tracks 4 out of 5.

The film is very inspiring and tells a great story that anyone can relate with.

If you have even thought about going on an adventure that takes you out of your comfort zone, watch this film.