“If you’re seeking perfection, free soloing is about as close as it gets,” says rock climber Alex Honnold. Riveting, nail-biting and spectacular are just a few words that describe the National Geographic documentary ‘Free Solo.’ The film chronicles Alex’s ascent up the 3,000 foot vertical rock face of Yosemite’s El Capitan without the aid of ropes. If you stack three Empire State Buildings on top of each other, that’s how high this formidable rock is. Why risk your life for a sport? As filmmaker Jimmy Chin follows him around with a camera, we find out that it’s not only his passion but facing the possibility of death, makes him appreciate life to the fullest. You don’t have to be a rock climber to admire the most thrilling adventure film of the year.
When we first meet Alex, he’s hanging from the side of a cliff. There is no margin for error in free climbing. One false move and you’re dead. What makes ‘Free Solo’ such a fascinating and unique documentary is that the filmmakers are world-class climbers that are right there with him hanging from ropes with cameras. The views are breathtaking. You may want to take a Dramamine before watching it. Another reason the film stands out from other documentaries is that it involves a love story. Alex’s new girlfriend Sanni McCandless is afraid that he might fall to his death reaching his goal. It provides the emotional anchor to the story. You can tell he cares for her but at the same time nothing will get in his way of conquering El Capitan.
As you follow Alex’s preparation to solo climb El Cap, we find out that he spends months practicing certain sections of the wall using rope to get the lay of the granite. He’s very meticulous and memorizes every step of the way. The film looks at Alex’s upbringing in Sacramento where it all started for him as a kid at a climbing gym. At the age of 19, he lost his father who introduced him to rock climbing. He poured his passion into the sport and gradually carved a living out of it. He gives a tour of his van that he lives out of most of the year even though he can afford a house. He explains that it gives him the freedom to travel anywhere across the country to climb mountains. There is also a scene where he gets an MRI exam. The results of the brain scan show he is wired differently and registers no sign of fear. Alex’s conditioning is as impressive as an Olympic athlete. He also has a long torso, ripped abs and big hands that help him grip the crevices of the rock.
Of course the climactic Yosemite climb is the main event. It’s terrifying to watch him scale the different sections of El Capitan. With cameras strategically located along the face, we get breathtaking views of Alex thousands of feet above the valley floor. You have to give a lot of credit to the married filmmaking couple Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin for providing visually stunning images. They make sure none of the cameras distract Alex from pursuing his goal. The filmmakers must also face the possibility that they might capture their friend plummeting to his death. It provides suspense as the audience is right there with Alex every step of the way. Luckily, Alex achieves his goal and completes the greatest feat in rock climbing history.
‘Free Solo’ is an intimate portrait of the best free rock climber in the world. The documentary has been receiving standing ovations at major film festivals. After viewing it, you will not be able to get it out of your head. Whether you are into rock climbing or not, you will be in awe of one of the greatest athletes in the world. The mental and physical strength it takes for him to reach his goal of scaling the most famous rock in the world is mind-blowing. Do yourself a favor and catch ‘Free Solo’ at your local cinema.
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Free Solo Rating
