The young man is Chris (Emile Hirsch), who is six thousand dollars in debt.

NEWYORKER: Home Turf

The hero really is called Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch), which more or less defines his career options.

NEWYORKER: Speed Racer

With James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, and Alison Pill.

NEWYORKER: Milk

Also notable are new films from art-house directors such as Richard Linklater ("Before Midnight, " which reunites stars Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke), Neil LaBute ("Some Velvet Morning"), David Gordon Green ("Prince Avalanche, " with Mr. Rudd and Emile Hirsch), Mira Nair ("The Reluctant Fundamentalist") and Neil Jordan ("Byzantium").

WSJ: Tribeca Film Fest Unveils Remainder of Slate

As the young man (played by Emile Hirsch) travels about, he attracts the interest of a South Dakota wheat farmer (Vince Vaughn, playing it straight), an aging hippie (Catherine Keener), and a retired Army man living on the edge of the California desert (Hal Holbrook), all of whom ask him to put down his backpack and stay.

NEWYORKER: Into the Wild