The well-known actor and producer Leonardo DiCaprio frequently expresses his opinions on historical accounts that depict particular junctures in time. The time period portrayed in "The Revenant," a movie in which he starred and for which he received an Academy Award, was one such instance that he found especially captivating.
DiCaprio is drawn to stories that take place in eras when social mores were still being formed because it's like venturing into uncharted territory where anything can happen. The historical period depicted in "The Revenant" is when the western frontier was untamed and wild, a place where people had to fend for themselves without any explicit rules or regulations.
Within this framework, DiCaprio views the film's protagonist, Hugh Glass, as a symbol of humanity's battle against the natural world. Many people romanticize the frontier era as a time when hardy individualists faced and overcame difficult environmental circumstances. DiCaprio also highlights the darker side of this story, where surviving required subduing and controlling nature rather than living in harmony with it.
It highlights how unpredictable and perilous life could be during this historical period when it is compared to a no-man's land. As they pushed into new areas, settlers and explorers faced danger at every turn, much like when they crossed an unmarked battlefield rife with danger. The sense of chaos and lawlessness that characterized these early American frontiers is highlighted by this analogy.
With his observations on "The Revenant," DiCaprio invites viewers to look beyond simple entertainment and contemplate the larger ramifications of historical narratives by highlighting how they can speak to deeper themes about human nature and our relationship with the outside world.