Comment

Aug 07, 2017
TRACKS, the movie from the book, "Tracks" by Robin Davidson, depicts the 1700 mile journey of Robin from Alice Springs, Australia to the Indian Ocean through the emptiest quarter of Australia's out back. A desert trek by Robin with 4 camels and one dog, shows her learning as she goes as she plots her journey with map and compass. Starting with just the idea of being let alone on her quest, she has little money until National Geographic sends sponsorship money and a photographer. They have a prickly relationship but further on the photograher, Rick Smolan, becomes her main support. The movie has voice over quotes that give us slight bits of what motivates her. One quote is that women who love animals are often depicted as off center. Against that stereotype we see her engage her camels and dog humanly as understandable pals and helpmates. This is opposite of the way she was taught by the Aussie's in Alice Springs which was as antagonist. On this point the book has more space to reveal Robin's sense of the camels personalities and they become there own characters in the book. The movie has the better ability to show the vast unceasing desert, and with a few shots from above we see her and her camels as just small dots on the sand. This is a very good adventure movie. ---Sherpaone