The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

 

"The world reveals itself to those who walk"

Werner Herzog

This new film starring the excellent Jim Broadbent is getting a lot of interest and has also been picked up by the Ordnance Survey and others because of its themes related to the importance of walking.

For me, the story has resonances with the context behind Raynor Winn's 'The Salt Path' but also a much earlier book I have a rare copy of which is Werner Herzog's 'Of Walking in Ice'. This explores a three week long walk that Herzog took in winter from Munich to Paris, believing that the person he was going to see in hospital: film-maker Lotte Eisner would stay alive for as long as he was making the journey.

The film has its own Twitter account as well encouraging encounters with the landscape.

Here's Mark Kermode's review, which mentions the Herzog book.... and may also contain spoiler alerts.

And for more on Herzog's book:


There is a link up with Ramblers GB and also Forestry England, who have made a map to accompany the film showing the route taken by the eponymous character and a competition to enter.

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