Wild (2014), directed by Jean-Marc Vallee

The Pacific Coast Trail runs from the US/Mexico border to the US/Canada border through deserts, hills and forests. Cheryl Strayed decided to walk the trail to get her life back together after going off the rails following the death of her beloved mother. Reece Witherspoon plays Cheryl, who had turned to sex and heroin to escape her misery and destroyed her marriage in the process. The Nick Hornby script from the Strayed memoir is tight, the solid supporting cast includes Thomas Sadoski as ex-husband Paul and the outstanding Laura Dern as her mother. Flashbacks are woven in well to create a credible and engaging tale of redemption and healing.