Review of Free Solo (2018) by Hector V — 01 Oct 2018

Possibly the standout documentary of Telluride Film Festival 2018, director pair Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin's "Free Solo" is as white knuckled and heart-pounding as they come. The film follows renowned rock climber Alex Honnold, a man with limited activity in his amygdala preventing the sensation of fear, as he prepares to free solo climb (climbing without ropes, harnesses, or other protective equipment, just one's bare hands and body, alone) El Capitan.

The subject matter alone is incredible-any of Honnold's practice runs on could lead the film on their own. The film's shot with mind-boggling cinematography that captures the real magnitude of Honnold's endeavors with tension and impressive comprehensibility. The lengths taken to film the climbs without bothering Honnold only add to the immersive thrills Vasarhelyi and Chin capture with perfect cinematic clarity.

Though the film starts to get repetitive by the halfway mark, it's offset with enough interesting material to keep one invested. Honnold's quirky personality is immediately magnetic, and as he gets closer to making the final climb, the cracks that begin to shine through his fearless shell make for compelling emotional moments. His relationship with his supportive, but worried girlfriend and family give the film an additional human element that ties "Free Solo" up with a perfect bow.