Paul Meins’ directorial debut is beautiful, and not just cause this family friendly film was shot on location in Australia and Europe, amidst fertile plains and starry skies.
Chasing Wonders grabs you from the outset and doesn’t let go, taking you on a journey through Australia as a boy, Savino (Michael Crisafulli), searches for a land his grandfather (Edward James Olmos) describes as “magical.” Against his father’s (Antonio de la Torre) wishes, he sets off into the Outback.
The location shooting pays off, as the vast, sweeping vistas of the Australian landscape offer a look at a place audiences don’t often see, the stars and aurora borealis popping against the mountain roads. The real beauty, however, lies in this boy’s inner journey, his tumultuous path to becoming a man, accepting his father, no matter how cruel, and discovering what it means to truly be alive.
The dialogue is wooden; the narration sounds like a Sunday School teacher doing his best Aristotle impression. But once we’re on the road, there are wonders to behold.
The Dove Take
Chasing Wonders is a beautiful adventure through the Outback, and a decent look at a troubled family, but language concerns hold it back.