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Sep 18, 2014 By Austin Trunick Web Exclusive

In 1977, Robyn Davidson embarked on a 1,700-mile journey by foot across the Australian desert. Accompanied only by a dog and four camels, the young woman’s solitary journey was sponsored by National Geographic, who sent photographer Rick Smolan out to periodically capture her image along her planned route. Outside of her infrequent contact with Smolan, the occasional run-ins with locals and tourists, and the help of indigenous natives who guided her through territory they considered sacred, Davidson’s only companions along the difficult, 195-day trek were her animal escorts and nature itself.

Adapted from Davidson’s bestselling memoir of the same name, Tracks is a beautiful, cathartic piece of process storytelling. We know Davidson’s plan—and most viewers will know its outcome—going in to the film; the pleasure, then, is in watching her prepare, step-by-step, and the expedition unfold in relaxed, episodic blocks. For the most part, Tracks is quiet and slow-moving, but its pacing is never a problem because what we see is so engrossing. Director John Curran and cinematographer Mandy Walker make wonderful use of the sprawling, Australian desert backdrop, with plenty of long, wide-angle shots of the makeshift caravan traversing its landscape. Mia Wasikowska capably occupies lengthy stretches of the film’s runtime on her own, interestingly portraying Davidson with perhaps a trace level of antisocial personality disorder. Adam Driver plays the photographer Smolan, who had an intermittent, romantic relationship with Davidson; it’s perhaps the most reserved, least brusque role we’ve seen him in to date, and is proof there’s a wider range to the actor. Tracks is certainly worth seeing—despite its sometimes dawdling stride—for the high level of talent involved both in front of and behind the camera; do yourself a favor and watch it on the largest screen you can find.

www.tracks-movie.com

Author rating: 7.5/10