Wide Open Road: Freedom and Facade in 'The Meaning of Vanlife'

Jim Lounsbury's documentary paints a sunny picture of van-dwelling nomads in Australia and the US, whose chosen lifestyle follows a long tradition of countercultural organising and sustainable-living practices. But, as Kath Dooley finds, some less glamorous realities lie beneath the surface of the film's overly romanticised, Instagram-friendly narrative – a tension that provides plentiful opportunities for primary and secondary classroom study.

Additional keywords:
Screens in the Classroom, Kit Whistler, JR Switchgrass, Beat generation, travellers, hippie, homelessness, class, social media