We’re all drawn to the concept of travelling — and just at the mention of the recreational activity, we can’t help but to feel warm and fuzzy inside. Not only that it takes away our stress, but travelling is also known to have the power of healing us from our past, as we find our true self in the journey.
By the way, did you know that nearly two-thirds of travellers, in general, are women? In light of this, here are the top 5 travel movies with exciting storylines involving female-centric characters, that will make you want to travel! (I know, I do)
Wild
This is a real-life adventure tale of Cheryl Strayed, an inexperienced backpacker who went on an epic 1,100-mile quest across the United States. After the crushing death of her mother, she walks alone, over deserts and through snow and mud to recover — find self-acceptance and redemption. Her amazing story of self-discovery and bravery is surely an absolute must-see for females who are into solo travelling.
Under the Tuscan Sun
After her husband divorces her for the woman he was having an affair with, Frances, a struggling writer makes an impulsive choice and buys a villa in Tuscany. In an effort to change her chaotic life, she renovates her villa, makes new friends and takes day trips to Rome and the Amalfi coast. Her journey of finding her way in a new country and a new life will inspire to travel to this Italian paradise as well as urging to scrap the urban life.
Lost in Translation
Lost in Translation tells the story of two Americans, an ageing actor and a recent college graduate, who form a connection upon a chance meeting in a Tokyo hotel. The film is an atmospheric and compelling exploration of loneliness, in the settings of some pretty amazingly beautiful shots of Kyoto and Tokyo. Unlike other travel movies, Lost in Translation is a much more nuanced portrayal of the travel experience that doesn’t gloss over the potential alienation, loneliness, and depression that can accompany the travel experience.
Before Sunrise Series
The Before Sunrise trilogy — Before Sunrise (1995), Before Sunset (2004), and Before Midnight (2013) — is the perfect travel film experience. Telling the story of an American man and a French woman, two travellers who meet on a train and decide to spend the entire night in Vienna. The trilogy follows these enigmatic characters over the course of 18 years and features Vienna, Paris, and Greece as living, breathing settings for their story. The Before Sunrise series captures the spontaneity of travel — a mixture of the mundane, the magical, and the apparently eternal. It also specializes in that travel feeling of being in a strange place with a strange person and feeling completely at home.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants tells the story of four childhood best friends struggling to stay together as they grow older and start spending their summers (and college years) apart. With storylines that take introverted Lena to visit her family (and fall in love) in the Greek isles and Bridget to work on an archaeological dig in Turkey, come for the beautiful international sights, stay for the celebration of female friendship. The films capture the joy of the first travel experience — and the struggles and triumphs of staying connected with one’s loved ones when on opposite sides of the world.