MAN VS NATURE: THE REVENANT

 At the 2016 Academy Awards Leonardo DiCaprio won his first golden statuette in the Best Male Actor's category for his portrayal of frontiersman Hugh Glass in the adventure thriller "The Revenant." As UN Messenger of Peace and a committed environmental activist, in his acceptance speech Mr. DiCaprio, while giving credit to those who contributed to his success, managed to switch the audience's focus for bit on to the topic of climate change. He says of filming The Revenant, that it was "about man's relationship to the natural world." A sentiment which  is compatible to statements made by the movie's director and co- writer Alejandro González Iñárritu who views the film in respect of America's capitalist economy. About The Revenant  he remarks it is about “the way these men deal with nature… Cutting trees – profit from it. Killing animals – profit from it." 

Alejandro González Iñárritu

Adapted from a novel written by Michael Punke which recounts the campfire tale of a 1820's American fur trapper Hugh Glass, The Revenant shows how one man's will to survive overcomes human and natural adversities. While there are other areas of conflict within the film, my focus is on that of man vs nature. While on a fur trapping expedition the frontiersman is attacked by and almost fatally injured by a female bear in the American wilderness. His fellow huntsmen' s attempt to escape the pursuing Ree warriors is then frustrated by a brutally wounded  Glass and an order was then given by Captain Andrew Henry (Domhnall Gleeson) that he be left behind in the care of bridger (Will Poulter), Glass' son Hawk (Forrest Goodluck) and John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), and warned to allow their comrade to die an honourable death. In an act of defiance and betrayal Fitzgerald murders Hawk while a weakened Glass looks on, unable to save his only son. The nearly dead Glass drags his way through the forested wilderness battling nature in order to exact revenge upon his son's killer.

Much is said about director Iñárritu's use of natural light for the entire film and having to shoot unbroken takes which resulted in cast and crew relocating in order to avoid unfavourable weather conditions. The director's keen portrayal of nature is further reflected in his use of traditional cinematography as opposed to computer generated imagery. It is even said that Iñárritu chose to manufacture an avalanche instead of relying upon CGI for a scene.

DiCaprio recognizes this film as having "environmental undertones" and should be seen as an impression of man's conflict and abuse and depletion of the earth's natural resources. As he ends his speech at the Oscars, his call is for the world to preserve the earth for the benefit of future generations and he pleads "let us not take this planet for granted."