Several years ago while returning to Los Angeles from a winter vacation in Las Vegas, I drove a little out of the way to see a less-traveled side of Death Valley. Along this route, I passed the small town of Trona, California. It was the most desolate place I had ever seen. Small sun-bleached houses dotted the landscape, many boarded up and abandoned. There were no visible restaurants or hotels. Sitting adjacent to a dry lake bed, Trona is permanently covered in dust. I drove slowly along the main street and spotted an old gas station. I parked and took a walk. A large factory loomed in the town center. It was clear that Trona started as a mining town. The lake bed would have to be a great source of minerals. Perhaps Trona had once thrived? But that would have been long ago. Today, Trona emits neglect and a silent eeriness. I was fascinated...
This is the backdrop for the movie of the same name. We are introduced to the main character, a middle-aged man returning to Los Angeles from a business trip. He is a heavy drinker, and suffers from loneliness. He wants to escape his unhappiness and get away from it all. He ponders making a detour and suddenly finds himself in the desert. His clothes get stolen, and he arrives in Trona wearing only underwear. The locals give him an icy reception (a stark contrast to the scorching weather!) Under these circumstances, our character does the best he can. This film captures the bleak desolation of Trona perfectly as our character wanders around the town. Why has he come here? He is striving to find his niche in this forgotten town in the middle of nowhere. If he succeeds, he will have truly escaped civilization as we all know it. In Trona, he would be free at last!
This is the backdrop for the movie of the same name. We are introduced to the main character, a middle-aged man returning to Los Angeles from a business trip. He is a heavy drinker, and suffers from loneliness. He wants to escape his unhappiness and get away from it all. He ponders making a detour and suddenly finds himself in the desert. His clothes get stolen, and he arrives in Trona wearing only underwear. The locals give him an icy reception (a stark contrast to the scorching weather!) Under these circumstances, our character does the best he can. This film captures the bleak desolation of Trona perfectly as our character wanders around the town. Why has he come here? He is striving to find his niche in this forgotten town in the middle of nowhere. If he succeeds, he will have truly escaped civilization as we all know it. In Trona, he would be free at last!
