In 1977, Robyn Davidson embarked on a solo, 2700-kilometre trek through the Australian Outback to the Indian Ocean. Her only help and companionship were in the form of four camels, her dog Diggity and occasionally Rick Smolan, a photographer with National Geographic, which sponsored and followed her every step of the way.
This movie could so easily have been boring but lo and behold, it is enthralling from start to finish. Director John Curran, actually an American-born filmmaker, approaches it with a visual and narrative language that suitably takes the middle ground, vibrant and earthy enough to maintain stimulation, but never so flashy as to feel like a tourism ad. Marion Nelson's screenplay shows a very firm grasp of Davidson's memoir of the same name, gifted cinematographer Mandy Walker (who also lensed Baz Luhrmann's Australia) captures every landscape and emotional beat with true assurance, and Garth Stevenson's score is pulsating.
But of course we wouldn't truly be able to complete a cinematic journey like this without a relatable protagonist played well, and Mia Wasikowska is just fearless as Robyn. She projects physical and mental stamina that becomes more remarkable as we learn of the ghosts that haunt Robyn, and Wasikowska balances that dichotomy flawlessly. Adam Driver's nonchalant charisma, also, is put to good use here as Rick.
Again, the story of Tracks may seem immensely boring initially. But I guarantee the end result will take your breath away, and maybe even move you.
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