A Map for Saturday

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.

This is a vaguely sweet little film does make me want to travel again. It offers precisely no insight about anything, but if you take it as a travelogue, you'll be happy with what you get.

Although the film visits exotic locales in Asia, Europe, Australia and South America, the undisputed star is the American film-maker. I guess I'm jealous of what I perceive as a uniquely American luxury of assuming everything you utter is profound; that not only should you record your thoughts, but they're worthy of a full-length film. It's not Asia or Europe that are interesting, but what this young American thinks about his experience visiting them.

Watching this, I was reminded (and, yes, the irony of writing about my own experiences isn't lost on me) of going to a concert by an 80's songstress in 2003 in Hicksville – yes, Hicksville – outside New York. I'm from Tasmania, Australia, and at the time I was living in Manchester, UK, travelling with a British girlfriend. We met a lovely group of American chaps at the concert and not one of them asked what we were doing in Hicksville watching a Cyndi Lauper concert in 2003. When they heard where we were from, one launched into a story about Sydney and another about London. My friend and I laughed about it at the time, commenting on the fact that they had no interest in us or our countries, just in their own experiences in relation to us. And that's what this whole film is like.

I do recommend watching it if you're young and about to go travelling, or thinking about it. I suspect it's already out of date with social media affording kids of all nationalities and incomes the ability to create travelogues, but if you don't know anyone who's backpacking with a blog, this does show what it's like. In fact, the entire film is just a Facebook update that a rich bloke managed to make into a motion picture.

It's a great movie. It's true that a backpacker trip in hostels gives you these kind of experiences but it's totally different if you avoid hostels and use couchsurfing, or just walk in a street to find a host or stay at local people's houses. I've traveled both way, stay with locals and go to hostels and believe me, it's absolutely not the same trip at all. You learn much less about the country, specially when you begin to move around with other backpacker, you become a group of tourists for the local people and you don't experience the real life and culture of the locals and they are also different to you in that way. The less you meet people who speaks the same language than you, the more you get to know the country and their people as you have to find a way to live with these people.

However, the movie, was great and it is really helpful for the people who like to travel to understand that it's not one year holidays... There is almost no comfort but it worth the freedom :)

I gave 8 just because it would be much better to be more with local people than with other travelers in hostels ;)

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!!!

Bunch of rich kids from USA, Netherland, and who knows from where, spending money traveling around the world where 99% of backpackers are going, without any idea why and crying how backpacking is hard, but still beautifull.