5 Movies to Inspire Wanderlust

Travel and movies have been old friends since the advent of cinema. Many movies have inspired and fuelled the modern travel culture. When you imagine yourself backpacking across Europe or trekking on the Himalayan terrain, I am sure you are thinking of some cinematic reference on a subconscious level. Films have been responsible for instilling the solo travel culture in our collective psyche. They have implored us, attracted us and urged us to travel.

As we continue to be limited by the pandemic and can not travel freely, here is a list of movies that allow you to travel vicariously:

1. The Holiday (2006)

Though a romantic comedy, The Holiday was the first film to introduce the concept of home-stay vacations much before the Air Bnbs were popular. In the film, the characters played by Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz opt for a home exchange after a series of heartbreaks around the holidays. Winslet visits Diaz's L.A. property, while Diaz lugs her big suitcases to Winslet's idyllic cottage in Surrey near London. The stories run parallelly in the two countries as the women find love, friendship and happiness. The intermittent shots of London and L.A. make you yearn for an immediate getaway.

2. Holiday in the Wild (2019)

If you are an adventurer and love wildlife, you will adore Holiday in the Wild. The film starts with divorce; and a disgruntled Kate (played by Kristen Davis) leaving for a vacation in Africa; a vacation she had planned for her husband. During her trip, the former vet reconnects with wildlife in the most unexpected way. She rescues baby elephants and nurses them back to health. What starts as a getaway from her life, turns into the vacation of a lifetime. Watch it to explore African jungles at close quarters.

Fun Fact: Davis is associated with Elephant rescue charities and has worked closely with elephants. Her adoration for elephants is quite evident in the film.

3. Tamasha (2015)

I am sure we all remember Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone dancing in the streets of Corsica to the beats of Matargashti. Their carefree abandon, the obvious chemistry, and the beautiful costumes were made fancier by the jaw-dropping backdrop of Corsica. A small island in France, Corsica is located in the Mediterranean Sea. While the musical number by A.R. Rahman is melodious, it is the beauty of the island-town that I find truly captivating. Watch it to enjoy the stunning scenery and the path-breaking film.

4. Eat, Pray, Love (2010)

Inspired by the book of the same name, Eat, Pray, Love covers the travels of Elizabeth Gilbert (played by Julia Roberts), who gives up her job and her mundane life to travel. She travels to Italy to enjoy the food and the decadent lifestyle; to India for meditation and Yoga, and to Bali for love and self-realization. Each country is a revelation, a realization, and while her travels help her journey to her inner self, the viewers live vicariously through her eyes.

Watch it for Julia Roberts and the gorgeous cinematography.

5. Life of Pie (2012)

Academy Award winner, Ang Lee's adaptation of the book by Yann Martel, Life of Pi offers a bleak but beautiful tour of the Pacific Ocean. Adrift in a lifeboat in the middle of nowhere, Piscine Patel finds solace in a tiger, the only other survivor of a shipwreck. As they navigate the pacific ocean, you get a close look at underwater life, mysterious islands and other curious creatures. Watch it for a wondrous nautical trip!

Dive into the deepest oceans, climb onto the roughest mountains, and jump from the highest peaks through this movie list. These films will inspire and cure your wanderlust. Travel through them and thank me later!

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