Summary

• The Revenant showcases brutal survival in the wilderness, depicting human perseverance through its protagonist Hugh Glass.
• Despite production challenges, the film led to Leonardo DiCaprio's first Oscar win, along with accolades for direction and cinematography.
• Inspired by true events, The Revenant stays faithful to American frontiersman Hugh Glass' story of survival and revenge against his former hunting team.

The Revenant is notable for its brutal and graphic displays of survival in the wilderness, but the extreme nature of its storytelling has prompted discussions of its real-life influence for years. The Revenant's brutal tale of revenge also highlights the tenacity and perseverance of the human spirit through its protagonist, Hugh Glass, as he's seen overcoming insurmountable odds throughout the film. The Revenant's lush cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki and gripping score by composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto also further express the emotional core of Alejandro G. Iñárritu's gritty, slow-burn drama.

Although The Revenant faced many production issues, the efforts of the cast and crew resulted in Hugh Glass actor Leonardo DiCaprio winning his first Academy Award, along with Iñárritu and Lubezki winning Best Director and Best Cinematography respectively. The Revenant is considered to be one of the best movies about man vs. the wild because it not only portrays the harshness of facing the elements, but it also inspires viewers to appreciate the sacrifices made by one's ancestors to help society reach the modern age. From the main character being mauled by a bear to fighting his own former friends, The Revenant boasts many questionable events.

The Revenant Is Based On The Life Of Hugh Glass

Hugh Glass was a frontiersman and fur trader who was left for dead during General Ashley's 1823 expedition.

The Revenant is loosely based on American frontiersman Hugh Glass, and his experiences surviving in the wilderness during General Ashley's 1823 expedition. While the film does take liberties with the real-life events, it largely remains faithful to the story by depicting Glass surviving a bear mauling before embarking on a revenge quest against his former hunting team. Perhaps the greatest display of The Revenant remaining faithful to Glass' experiences is demonstrated in the film's depiction of his spiritual awakening during his recovery from the near-fatal bear attack.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, the real-life Glass was a middle-aged pirate who abandoned the expedition by his own free will before witnessing cannibals eat some of his friends alive. Although omitted from the film, it took Glass approximately two months to recover from his bear attack, and he traveled an estimated 300 miles on foot to reach Fort Kiowa safely. In addition to taking inspiration from the real-life story, The Revenant was also inspired by a 2002 novel of the same name by Michael Punke, as well as by a 1915 poem titled, The Song of Hugh Glass.

The Revenant Was Inspired By A Book Based On A 1915 Poem

The Song of Hugh Glass also inspired the 1971 movie, Man in the Wilderness.

The Song of Hugh Glass is told in five cantos and sees an older Glass and his young hunting partner named Jamie. After Jamie and another trapper ambush Glass and leave him for dead, he regains consciousness, deduces who betrayed him, and sets out on a quest for revenge. The novel, The Revenant, focuses on a similar story with similar themes while also emphasizing more of Glass's thoughts and feelings about his situation via internal monologues - something neither the poem nor the film does. The Song of Hugh Glass and The Revenant would both inspire another film before Iñárittu's.

Although inspired by many things, The Revenant is largely based on Glass's real story.

The 1971 survival film, Man in the Wilderness, sees Richard Harris as Zachary Bass, a father and trapper, also finding himself fighting for survival in the wilderness after being betrayed by his fellow trappers. Featuring even less dialogue than 2015's The Revenant, Man in the Wilderness shares similar themes of survival as every other story based on Glass. However, Man in the Wilderness is most notable for its themes of Christianity, as Zachary's flashbacks show the character wrestling with his faith as well as his survival. Although inspired by many things, The Revenant is largely based on Glass's real story.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter