Image: Fox Searchlight Pictures
As South Africa prepares to enter two additional weeks of lockdown, one primary ailment comes to mind: cabin fever. In the last three weeks, non-essential workers, children, and students have been confined to their living quarters by a strict #stayathome policy. Now, more so than ever before, the feeling of being trapped inside has started to rear its ugly head. For nature lovers, this has become an especially trying time. But, luckily, the option to virtually escape your home setting is there. Through watching a scenic film, you’ll be given a digital dose of nature. And, although nothing beats the real thing, a film with grand natural landscapes is better than no scenic beauty at all.
In these uncertain times, we suggest you try and get a little lost in these comforting and awe-inspiring sights.
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Our pick of beautiful films for a digital view of nature…
1. Wild
Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon stars in this poignant film as recently-divorced Cheryl Strayed. Based on a true story, the film follows Cheryl’s journey to finding herself after the tragic loss of her mother. Before attempting the long trek, Cheryl first becomes involved in a slew of sexual partners and heroin. The solitary time she spends in nature is ultimately what brings her back to life. A truly breathtaking view is guaranteed.
Watch the trailer here.
2. The Sound of Music
Image: 20th Century Fox
The hills (or in your case, the living room) will come alive with music and the picturesque backdrop of the Swiss Alps while watching The Sound of Music. This beloved film, which stars Julie Andrews as a nun-turned-governess, is a musical delight for the entire family to enjoy. It’s also a feast for the eyes as it boasts towering mountains, rivers, and sun-filled meadows.
Watch the trailer here.
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3. Call Me by Your Name
Image: Sony Pictures Classics
Allow Call Me by Your Name to transport you to the summer of 1983 in northern Italy where a playful romance is about to unfold. Among tones of blue, green, and orange, postgraduate student, Oliver, and teenage boy, Elio, share a passionate love affair. You’ll spot fruit trees, rivers, and a great waterfall as you fall in love with this beautiful story that could easily slip into the art-film category. Starring Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer.
Watch the trailer here.
4. Moonrise Kingdom
Image: Focus Features
In this classic Wes Anderson film, a young boy-scout and his love interest run away from home together. The auteur’s signature stamp glosses over the entire story, but it’s also filled with shots on location at a beach, in a forest, and in a meadow. The plot line itself is filled with a few twists, which makes Moonrise Kingdom even more captivating. To be enjoyed with a bowl of popcorn, extra treats and a large glass of wine.
Watch the trailer here.
5. The Revenant
Image: 20th Century Fox
The Revenant is an important entry into this list, because it is a story that was primarily filmed outside and also signals when Leonardo DiCaprio finally won his Oscar. Leonardo plays Hugh Glass, a frontiersman who survives a number of brutal attacks while exploring the unchartered wilderness. When he is betrayed by a member of his team and left for dead, Hugh relies on raging strength and prime survival skills to enact his vengeance.
Watch the trailer here.
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6. Free Solo
Image: National Geographic Documentary Films
This documentary film follows renowned rock climber Alex Honnold as he attempts to climb El Capitan without the aid of climbing equipment. El Capitan is a rock formation in the Yosemite National Park that is hugely popular among professional rock climbers. The style of rock climbing without any equipment is called “free soloing” – hence the title of the film. A bracing and extraordinarily sublime display of nature and the resilient human spirit.
Watch the trailer here.
7. Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Image: New Line Cinema
Journey to the fantasy world of ‘Middle Earth’ (or should we say, New Zealand) in this epic tale of good versus evil. A list of beautiful landscapes in film wouldn’t be complete without this trilogy. Frodo and Sam’s quest to destroy an evil ring of power is a moving, inspiring and ageless narrative. Turn it into a marathon event by watching all three films over the course of a weekend.
If you’re not sold yet, watch the trailer here.
8. Far from the Madding Crowd
Image: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Carey Mulligan stars in this period romance as Bathsheba, a young woman who inherits a farm and decides to care for it herself. Three different men court Bathsheba throughout the film: a farmer, a young sergeant, and a wealthy bachelor. She declines the farmer’s proposal of marriage first, but fate somehow continues to reunite the pair. Bathsheba is a headstrong female character that Carey imbues with a likeable tenderness. The landscapes are simply gorgeous.
Watch the trailer here.
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By Features Writer Marike Watson
