A Map for Saturday

I'd rate it higher but I think the film doesn't have enough shots to show the really awesome aspects. It's mostly interviews with other travellers talking about their own opinion on travelling, rather than actually showing the real-life shots of the mostly *cultural* experiences that are had on the journey.

By the end of the film, I wasn't left with a burning desire to pack up my things and go back out to do it all again. I think it's because my personal interest in travel is hardly based on the interpersonal relationships at all. But that's the only thing this documentary seems to cover. Travelling is more than just meeting new people in hostels.

However, Brook Silva-Braga I'm sure you'll read this, so I'd just like to say that if I was somewhere in the world and I met you, and we talked, and you told me you were making this movie, I would be hugely impressed - you definitely made the most of your time away. And we'd no-doubt form the classic 'traveller friendship' you described in the movie, hah.

I give the documentary a 6 because it sadly didn't really cover the key aspects of travel that I was expecting to see, and instead just focused on meeting new travellers and how it 'feels' to be one. However for the effort and generally awesome motivation and hard work that will have gone into making and filming it for a full year, I give a 10/10, because, as I said, it is a hugely impressive thing to do, no matter what.

I'm interested to know how it's perceived by people who've never left home before.

Whiny, spoiled boy quits his TV job and dumps his Manhattan apartment to take a year long vacation from his tough life. In this useless travelogue, he focuses on socializing with fellow backpackers and does not talk much about the places or sights. Once in a while, he complains about Indian trains, altitude sickness, and getting mugged. Hey, there's a way to avoid this- it's called research! Also he low-balls the cost of his trip ($20k USD)- bullshit on that, especially when you're buying your many plane tickets last minute in the terminal. So sorry you're lonely on your trek, but maybe if you had concentrated more on where you are and what real locals are doing, and not just f**king Euro girls in hostels, you'd have had a better time.

In my opinion it's difficult to report any sort of aspects of a trip-movie in one hour and thirty minutes. You've to choice what represent, what kinda of details to describes. Doing a movie about travels it's not so easy, even the most famous ones are oriented to describes some aspects. I gave a rating of 8/10 'cause in this documentary u can see normal people, true feelings and true explanations from different points of view of guys who comes from different nationalities. It broadcast the common desire to see the entire world without being wearisome, u could be one of the guys interviewed,it's a psychological movie that tells the reasons of why some people need to backpack. It could be an inspirational movie for someone who hasn't yet the brave to leave the material world to knowing better himself and the world in which we live. Switch off the TV and BACKPACK!!!

although it may seem easy to make a travelogue like this, not many have done it. i really can't think of another doc that takes you on a trip and is as concise, fun and well made as this one. lonely planet series comes to mind but that's about it.

one complaint i have with others who criticize this, is that; it is what it is. this is not suppose to be a cultural anthropological study or a doc on the culture of the people - it is a doc about traveling around the world meeting people in hostels and it succeeds in being a very entertaining 90 minute film.

for anyone that has done this, you will love it. for anyone that wants to do it, it will inspire you.

since mostly young, impressionable people do this, after a while on the road it does get tedious when other people just ask questions comparing their trip to yours. "what, you didn't visit the hill tribes!" or "that place is too touristy" or "you only spent a week there!" etc...

just go out and enjoy, experience and wander around our beautiful planet and if you really want to have a unique experience, forgo the guide books and create your own trip, it will be frustrating at times but you will come back with a unique and original adventure. the best times will be the times you don't have it all planned out.

I am a traveler. Born in Europe, I have traveled Europe extensively. I did a RTW (Around The World Trip), I traveled several individual countries independently, I have traveled specific regions independently - generally speaking, I am a nomad (and currently an expat). So, yeah, I was very curious what 'A Map for Saturday' could do for me. While watching the movie, I had many moments of nodding, I had many moments of pure joy because some memories came over me and I definitely understood where most of these people were coming from: backpacking = freedom, backpacking = a one time opportunity, backpacking scares you into open-mindedness, etc., etc. However, eventually the movie left me wanting. On one hand, because I wanted to run into the storage room and pack my gear (which is a good thing). But on the other hand also because it was rather one dimensional. Yes, the impact meeting other travelers has on you when you do a one year solo trip is undeniable. And yes, it is interesting to hear these '5 hours friends' opinions, motivations and philosophy. But that goes only that far. It's shallow - something the director recognizes himself, but doesn't break out off. And that is why the movie is one dimensional. That's why the movie is more a study of a subculture, rather than trying to communicate the essence of backpacking. Backpacking is not exclusively about other foreigners, partying, shagging, meeting and leaving friends - it's also (and hopefully even more so) about the local people and the local culture. And that is something the movie does touch on only marginally - which is in the end why I can not really relate to the movie, despite being a backpacker.

Like I said in the beginning: it's not a great movie, but it's going to be difficult to make it better. If you are a traveler (or have been), I recommend picking it up to go down memory lane for a while. If you are considering doing a RTW, most definitely watch this movie, it'll give you some confidence. But if you want to experience the backpacking feeling: grab you pack and hit the road.