"Nobody achieves anything because they're happy and cozy." So says soloist climber Alex Honnold in Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarheyli's National Geographic-produced documentary Free Solo, which chronicles Honnold's daring and dangerous climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in 2017.
Without safety ropes.
For Alex, his choice of professionalism "makes him feel alive." Or, as he adds, "If you're seeking perfection, free soloing is the closest thing." His journey and lifestyle stands as a new benchmark in the theme of "pushing the edge"--not only literally, but also physically and mentally--hence, the triumph of the human spirit.
Honnold's lifestyle gets chronicled from an apparently shy and introverted childhood, to choosing to live out of a van, to what drives and influences him and how he processes things. At one point in the documentary, he gets an MRI to see how his brain works/is working, partly to make sure what he's doing is for the right reasons--yet not changing his mindset about it. His current relationships and communication skills, both professionally and personally, get tested including the one with his girlfriend, Sannim and how she impacts his life; a life they could or could not be living together. As for the titular climb up El Capitan itself (and free soloing, in general), the results could go one of two ways: accomplishment or death.
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| (l-r) Alex Honnold, Sanni McCandless, Elizabeth Chai Vasarheyli, and Jimmy Chin |
Talk about edge-of-your-seat. As exhilarating and thrilling as free solo climbing is to look at, it's also incredibly risky and dangerous. The tiny points on the structure of such landmarks, for one thing, require so much pressure and mentality. To reiterate Honnold's analytical mindset, he describes different "pitches" to the climb--that is, so many analytical ways or possible patchs to climb up, not to mention the number of attempts it takes. (There are 31 pitches that were done on this climb, for the record.)
The theme of risks and consequences genuinely takes a toll on the crew members (all professional climbers) involved, and certainly audience members. Many people have reportedly tried climbing this monument before, but not without safety ropes. And many have died as a result of that. "There's no margin for error," says one crew member. Friends and cameramen have questioned at many points if this climb should be done, in light of the extremely dangerous circumstances, not to mention the difficult possibility of anything going wrong. (It's no spoiler, obviously, that he does survive the climb.)
When the climb does start, hang on. As tense and gripping as it is, it's also unexpectedly moving. Forget Spider-Man or any Mission: Impossible stunt that Tom Cruise has ever pulled. With stunning photography and sheer commitment, you feel you're right up there on the mountain with Alex, and as nervous and thrilled as he is. (The "Boulder Problem" pitch was especially so nerve-racking, that at least one cameraman couldn't watch.) The effect is thoroughly gripping, yet subtle and, again, unexpectedly moving. I was just floored. Very rarely does a documentary (let alone a filmgoing experience) do that for me. Wow. Just wow.
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