Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin created an impressive portrait with the US documentary “Free Solo” (2018).
The film follows the free solo climber Alex Honnold on his “El Capitan” project, a huge rock ledge in Yosemite Park [yoh-SEM-i-tee] in California, without protective gear. Due to the enormous heights and the lack of safety in the Free Solo, the climber has to rely completely on his physical strength and abilities. A mistake usually ends fatally.
The film team consists of professional climbers and friends of Honnold and in addition to portraying the protagonist and what his passion for his relationship with girlfriend Sanni means, it also deals with the team’s conscience. You want to support your friend in his endeavor, but what if he is distracted by the filming and falls to his death in front of your eyes?
All in all, very good insights into the mindset of this extreme athlete and an intense visual experience.
The film won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 2019 and can be viewed for free on Disney + and on amazon for a few euros.
