10 Films to fuel your wanderlust

We may be confined to the house for an untold time, which means there’s never been a better time for some serious binge-watching! While travel is not yet possible, lucky for us, movies have the power to transport us to faraway places. Whether it’s a hike through the wilderness you crave, a summer spent in Sicily, or the sensory overload of the streets of India, these 10 films are as captivating as they are evocative.

We are equally movie buffs and travel fanatics, so please share in the comments section your suggestions!

What are the movies that ignited your travel desire, that excited you for overseas adventures, and the films that made you book a trip the very next day?

1. Roman Holiday (1953)
It will take you to: Rome

Set in Rome, starring a young and beautiful Audrey Hepburn and a tall dark and handsome Gregory Peck, what’s not to love about this timeless romantic comedy? Hepburn plays a princess on a royal tour who decides to go incognito to take a break from her demanding royal commitments. Peck plays a journalist for an American news bureau in search of a big royal scoop. Peck pretends to be a regular traveller who offers to take the princess on a tour of the city. Their day exploring Rome sets the scene for a budding romance, and as they fall for one another you will fall for the charms of Rome.

2. The Godfather (1972)
It will take you to: New York, Las Vegas and Sicily

Considered a cinematic masterpiece and winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, The Godfather is a fascinating depiction of the traditional, yet brutal underworld of a fictional New York Italian Mafia family. Set in the 1940s, it is based on the Mario Puzo novel of the same name.

This celebrated film is known for its brilliant performances by its stars, Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, and masterful direction by Francis Ford Coppola. Marlon Brando plays the patriarch and Godfather, Vito Corleone, a respected Mafia don. Al Pacino plays his son who ultimately becomes his successor. The movie features stellar performances from other acting greats including Diane Keaton, James Caan and Robert Duvall.

Fun Fact: Corleone is an Italian town in Sicily where several Mafia bosses have come from. Throughout the Godfather film series, various members of the Corleone family visit the town. In the films, the towns of Savoca and Forza d’Agrò in Sicily were actually used as locations for the scenes set in Corleone.

3. Baraka (1994)
It will take you to: Across six continents and 24 countries

Filmed in 70mm across 24 countries, Baraka is an incomparable cinematic experience. Directed by Ron Fricke, this film is a documentary set only to music. It acts like a time capsule of planet earth via an extraordinary visual and audio compilation of human customs and races, natural events and technological advances. This is a truly incredible and beautiful movie, which is a celebration of human diversity and the varied landscapes within our one planet.

3. National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)
It will take you to: UK, Germany, Paris, Rome and Spain

In a whirlwind tour of Western Europe, chaos ensues as the Griswold family clumsily make their way across the continent. Clark (played by Chevy Chase) has a tendency to drive on the wrong side of the road. This causes frequent accidents and gets the family stuck on a London roundabout for hours on end. At Stonehenge, Clark accidentally backs the car into an ancient stone monolith, toppling all the stones like dominoes, and leaving you wondering will any of Europe’s monuments survive?

The movie touches on the funny side of family travel, from unfamiliar traffic rules, to bickering siblings and navigating different languages and customs.

5.   Up (2009)
It will take you to: Paradise Falls (a fictional place in South America)

It may be considered a kids’ movie, but this animated feature is a heart-warming story which appeals to all ages.  A tale of love and loss, the film follows a grumpy, elderly widower named Carl, a young boy scout named Russell, and Dug, a talking golden retriever.  Carl never had a chance to take his beloved wife to Paradise Falls. Now, he is determined to make the trip. Russell and Dug attached themselves to a reluctant Carl and unexpected friendships are formed. Up is a lesson to not push your life goals aside. It is a unique film that makes you laugh and cry. Keep a box of tissues handy.

Fun Fact: Paradise Falls may be a fictional place but a similar ‘lost world’ really does exist in South America called Mount Roraima. It flanks the borders of Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana and is nicknamed the Floating Island. Its landforms and ecosystem are considered so unusual, they continue to baffle scientists.

6. The Way, 2010
It will take you to: Camino de Santiago trail, Spain

Starring Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen, The Way is a heart-warming story of a father who walks the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain in honour of his estranged son who died while making the trek. His experience is both enlightening and emotional, as he seeks to gain a deeper understanding of his son on the 800 kilometre long journey. The film features an unusual mix of characters, all trekking the long trail for their own personal reasons.

7. Tracks, (2013)
It will take you to: Western Australia

Based on the true story of Robyn Davidson’s solo expedition in the 1970s, Tracks is the tale of a young woman who goes on a 2,720 km trek across the deserts of West Australia with four camels and her dog. Occasional human contact comes in the form of a photographer for National Geographic and an Indigenous Australian elder who guides her through sacred lands. This moving film stars Mia Wasikowska, Adam Driver and Lily Pearl.

8. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel(2011)
It will take you to: Jaipur, India

In this comedy drama, a group of British retirees decide to defy the expectations of living out their days in a UK aged care system. Instead they escape to Jaipur, India, to where, according to a travel advertisement, they can enjoy lavish accommodations at a bargain price at the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The hotel turns out to be less luxurious than expected, but it slowly begins to work its charms in unexpected ways. This endearing film starring Judy Dench proves how fulfilling travel can be at any age, and that ambition is not only for the young.  Expect romance, love triangles, themes of love and loss, lots of laughs and lovable characters.

9. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
It will take you to: New York City, Greenland, Iceland, Yemen, Afghanistan and the Himalayas

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is the story of a chronic day-dreamer who escapes his dull, day-to-day life by disappearing into a fantasy world filled with romance, heroism, and action. One day, a problem at his workplace puts his job on the line and sparks the need for Walter to step out of his cubicle, be bold and take action in the real world. Driven by a love interest and the need to save his job, he embarks on an adventure that turns into an epic odyssey, more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined.

Mitty heads from the streets of Manhattan to Greenland, Iceland and even the Himalayas on his quest. Directed by Steven Spielberg and Ben Stiller the movie stars Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Shirley MacLaine and Sean Penn. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty it is a visual feast for travel lovers that will leave you feeling inspired.

10. Wild (2014)
It will take you to: The Pacific Crest trail, USA

After years of destructive behaviour, followed by the breakdown of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed is feeling lost. To find some clarity, this young woman makes an unexpected decision to hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. She has no hiking experience. Her backpack is too big and her boots are too tight but she is driven by sheer determination and a compelling need to see the hike through. Wild is a captivating story of personal growth set among the jaw dropping scenery of the Pacific Crest Trail.  Reese Witherspoon delivers a powerful portrayal of a woman in her 20s facing her demons on journey that challenges, frustrates, strengthens, and ultimately helps to heal her.

Now, what are your suggestions?