Free Solo (2018)
About This Movie
Alex Honnold attempts to climb El Capitan in Yosemite, a 3,000 foot vertical rock face, without ropes, and the film follows his preparation, his relationships, and the climb itself, which is so terrifying to watch that the cinematographers have described experiencing panic attacks while filming it. Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi directed a documentary that makes your palms sweat even when you know the outcome.
Why It's a Classic
The film works on two levels simultaneously: as a visceral physical spectacle and as a psychological portrait of a man whose relationship with fear is fundamentally different from most people's. Honnold is not fearless; brain scans shown in the film suggest his amygdala simply responds differently to threatening stimuli. The ethical questions the film raises about whether the filmmakers are complicit in a potential death, and whether their cameras create pressure to perform, are addressed honestly rather than swept aside. The climb footage itself, captured by climber cameramen positioned along the route, is genuinely extraordinary, combining beauty and terror in a way that cinema rarely achieves. The relationship between Honnold and his girlfriend Sanni McCandless provides an emotional counterweight to the solitary obsession: here is a man who has optimized his life for one thing, and a woman asking him whether there is room for anything else.
Fun Fact
Honnold completed the free solo climb of El Capitan on June 3, 2017, in three hours and fifty-six minutes. The cameramen, all experienced climbers themselves, had to be positioned along the route before dawn, and several have said they could not watch certain sections. Chin has described looking away from the camera during the most dangerous passages because he could not bear to witness a potential fall. Honnold's preparation included memorizing every handhold and foothold on the 3,000 foot route, rehearsing individual sections hundreds of times with ropes before attempting the climb without them.
Parent Note
The film contains scenes of extreme heights that will cause genuine physical anxiety in many viewers. The constant awareness that Honnold could fall to his death at any moment creates sustained tension. There are brief discussions of his family background and emotional detachment. No violence, strong language, or sexual content. Rated PG-13. The film is appropriate for teens and up, though viewers with a strong fear of heights may find it difficult. An excellent film for discussions about risk, passion, and the difference between bravery and recklessness.
Quick Facts
- Year
- 2018
- Type
- 🎬 Movie
- Category
- Documentary
- Age Group
- Adults (Ages 18+)