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Free Solo
2018 100 min United States of America PG-13 18+
★8.8
Documentary, Adventure
Director: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Trailers
Description
Follow Alex Honnold as he attempts to become the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite's 3,000 foot high El Capitan wall. With no ropes or safety gear, this would arguably be the greatest feat in rock climbing history.
US Gross:
$17.54M
Worldwide:
$21.79M
Starring
Alex Honnold
Actor
Tommy Caldwell
Actor
Jimmy Chin
Actor
Awards
BAFTA 2019
— Best Documentary Feature
Academy Awards 2019
— Best Documentary Feature
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2019
— Best Real-Life Hero
Key opinion
Free Solo is a masterfully crafted documentary that captures an extraordinary human achievement with both technical precision and emotional resonance. While audiences are consistently awestruck by the feat, the film invites debate over the ethics of documenting life-threatening risks and the wisdom of such extreme self-destructive pursuits.
| Cinematography | The cinematography utilizes innovative drone and remote camera work to capture the scale and danger of the ascent without interfering with the climber’s focus. | |
| Theme | The film succeeds as a psychological portrait, effectively juxtaposing Honnold's stoic, methodical discipline against the vulnerability introduced by his romantic relationship. | |
| Direction | The narrative effectively grounds the high-stakes climb in human terms by including the complex ethical dilemmas faced by the film crew while documenting potential tragedy. | |
| Culture | The film is divided between those who view Honnold's ascent as an inspiring display of human potential and those who criticize the glorification of dangerous, irrational, and self-destructive behavior. |