Directors
Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
(MERU)

Not sure about you, but to me, even just the thought of climbing the 3,200-foot (975 metres) El Capitan in Yosemite National Park is beyond daring. To attempt this ascent without any safety gear or rope whatsoever is just plain insane. Nonetheless, this is the resolute ambition of professional free soloist climber Alex Honnold. This Oscar-nominated documentary takes us inside the mind of Alex and chronicles his preparations and attempt to conquer one of the most dangerous rock-climbing feats in history.

This is a remarkable documentary to watch whose camerawork is as equally astonishing as the mission that is being filmed. The filmmaking team working on FREE SOLO quite openly share with viewers some of the obstacles that they encountered while recording Alex’s climb. To have captured this hair-raising experience from several angles at varying heights, with some shots at such close range to illustrate certain detail, is victorious in itself. Not to mention the stunning vistas on display too. Sharing this journey with Alex is incredibly special. Not just to witness what he is aiming to accomplish but to also simply get to know him personally. And what a guy he is! Genuine, brutally honest and utterly hilarious. Alex seriously has no filter and isn’t quite as skilled at understanding and expressing human emotions as he is at his sporting craft. Though Alex is a man who doesn’t connect so well with most human beings, you will find yourself completely comprehending and supporting him in every way, thanks to the wisely selected footage that has made the final cut of this (literally) cliff-hanging documentary.

4 stars

Viewer Discretion
M (Coarse language)

Trailer
FREE SOLO

Moviedoc thanks Madman for the in-season pass to watch and review this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc
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