Great strides in the arts world
SOME of the greatest movies, and songs, have involved characters taking a first step of a huge outdoor adventure.
Run, Forrest
After Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) returns from the Vietnam War, takes up ping pong and ends up in an international tournament, and starts a trawler company, among other achievements, he settles at his mother’s home.
The 1994 movie takes a romantic turn when his childhood sweetheart, Jenny Curran (Robin Wright), lands on his door.
But she turns down his marriage proposal and leaves Forrest, which prompts him to start running and keep running across the US.
He covers hundreds of kilometres, and garners much public attention before he runs out of puff.
Hanks’ role earned him an Oscar for best actor.
Walking for love
Scottish duo The Proclaimers reckon they would walk a thousand miles for the ladies of their dreams.
The hit single I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) reached number one on Australian and New Zealand music charts. It was released as the lead single on the duo’s 1988 album Sunshine on Leith. The pair wrote the song in 45 minutes before a concert in Aberdeen.
Into the Wild
Directed by Sean Penn, Into the Wild is a movie based on the life of Christopher McCandless.
McCandless gives up his worldly goods and first drives, and then hitch-hikes, kayaks, walks and jumps trains through the US wilderness.
At first he finds comfort in solitude, but works out (too late) that true happiness comes from the love of others.