Parvati Magazine December 2014/January 2015: Consequence/Beginnings | Page 35

FILM Based on the 1977 true story of Robyn Davidson (Mia Wasikowska), Tracks is a cinematic film that beautifully and powerfully recounts one 27-year-old woman’s courageous 1,700-mile journey by foot across the unforgiving Australian desert with four camels and a black dog named Diggity. Director John Curran (We Don’t Live Here Anymore, The Painted Veil) works with Marion Nelson’s focused script of minimal dialogue to capture the intensity of Robyn’s sense of isolation, her mistrust of people, the profound relationship she has with her environment, and the intensity of a psychologically transformative journey. Seemingly unaware of the true motivation for her journey other than the desire to be alone, Robyn works for years learning to train the feral camels that will be her tie to survival amidst an inhospitable yet sacred landscape. Thanks to Curran’s fine directorial work, the viewer is intimately aware that she seeks to start anew and somehow be born again through the grueling walkabout, so that she can eventually feel unencumbered by the weight of her traumatic past. The journey is one of a grieving soul, seeking to return to wholeness and find her place in the world anew. Her journey is almost entirely solitary, but she is occasionally accompanied by an aboriginal elder, Mr. Eddy (Rolley Mintuma), who walks with her through sacred aboriginal land. Every six weeks, her sponsor’s American photographer, Rick Smolan (Adam Driver) from the National Geographic, visits her and takes pictures. Sporadic tourists also seek to take pictures of the elusive and misunderstood “Camel Lady”. I watched the movie with my jaw dropped at the totality of the experience. The masterful editing moved rhythmically, almost hypnotically, from one scene to the next. The poetic visual pacing was beautifully mirrored by the outstanding addition of Garth Stevenson’s soundtrack. His choice of subtle, moody and emotional instrumentation adds a perfect balance of anticipation and suspense, and a sense of expansive reverie, to the lush visuals. You can sense Stevenson’s innate appreciation for nature, nourished in the green landscapes of his native British Columbia. Audiences are left mesmerized by the vast landscape, stunning cinematography and the intimate, gritty and graceful performance by Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Jane Eyre, Stoker). This movie is for anyone who loves nature, believes in the transformation of the soul, and delights in the human spirit – or for anyone who simply loves an outstanding cinematic experience. Parvati Devi is the editor-in-chief of Parvati Magazine. In addition to being an internationally acclaimed Canadian singer, songwriter, producer and performer, she is a yoga teacher and holistic educator. Having studied yoga and meditation since 1987, Parvati developed her own yoga teaching style called YEMTM Yoga as Energy Medicine. Her current shows, “YIN: Yoga In the Nightclub” and “Natamba” bring forward a conscious energy into the pop mainstream. Her book “Confessions of a Former Yoga Junkie” is a road map to a revolutionary life makeover for sincere spiritual seekers. For more information on Parvati, please visit www.parvati.tv.