Tracks (12A)
Directed by John
Curran
25th April - 1st May 2014
Reviewed by
Based on a true story Tracks chronicles a 1700 mile trek across the Australian
outback by 27-year-old Robyn Davidson in 1977.
She began the journey in Alice Springs, with her final destination being
the west coast, accompanied by a beautiful black dog called Diggity and
four camels, who she had painstakingly trained.
Davidson, played by Mia Wasikowska, who appeared as the cutesy woman
in The Double, was a loner, who did not particularly enjoy the company
of other people. Nevertheless she is far more relaxed in the company of
the indigenous people she meets along the way.
The trek was sponsored by National Geographic, with one of their top
photographers Rick Smollan (Adam Driver) assigned to the task of documenting
the epic travels of The Camel Lady.
She resents his intrusion on several occasions along the way, particularly
his insistence on asking her to pose for shots. But for him though, and
his thoughtfulness towards her, she would have died through lack of water
en route to her goal.
Davidson has demons from her childhood, which still plagued her, notably
the suicide of her mother by hanging. Maybe this was a major motivation
in her quest - to achieve something which most people would believe was
beyond them.
The camels are fascinating to watch throughout the film, together with
Diggity, a delightful bundle of joy, and a treasure to Davidson.
Director John Curran captures the outback in all its sunbaked glory,
but never shies away from the potential death trap it can prove to be
to those who are dismissive of its fiery and lethal heat.
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