Arnon Grunberg

Insults of life

Leaving civilization

Sean Penn’s movie “Into the wild” can be compared with Werner Herzog’s documentary “Grizzly Man.” But whereas Grizzly Man at least leaves you with the feeling that at the end it’s better not to leave civilization completely, Sean Penn’s “Into the wild” makes leaving it all behind you look fairly attractive. (Seeing both movies is highly recommended.)
I thought that Jon Krakauer’s book, upon which “Into the Wild” is based, was about a man trying to climb mountains. I was wrong.
The temptation to disappear remains high. No book parties, no uphill battles, no best sellers and no awards.
Silence is a dignified answer to the insults of life.
(But to overcome the desire of revenge is a battle in itself. And not a very dignified one.)