Review of Touching the Void (2003) by Damian B — 19 Mar 2005

[font=Comic Sans MS]I'm a strange sort. Basicly harmless, frustrated, and nearly.

Always sad, there are two constants that almost always,.

If not make me feel actaully happy, help me feel better. And.

To those of us with depression, that is huge.

The first is playing music. Not listening, but actually playing a musical.

Instrument. I've been a semi-professional musician for about 20 years,.

And playing acoustic guitar or electric bass guitar gives me a deep.

Satisfaction that words cannot describe. When I play, I literaly am.

[u]NOT HERE[/u]. My mind is distracted enough that for those brief minutes or.

Hours, until the demon takes hold of my emotions (I sometimes refer.

To my mental/physiological disorder as "the demon"), I am FREE.

The second, and its a close second, is watching a movie. Not just any.

Movie, but something that (I hope) will transport me away on every level.

Ideally, being in a large, darkened movie theater, lights dimming, the.

Projector awaking from its slumber to open the portal, MY portal, of.

Sights and imagination, wonder, beauty, sadness, anger, delight...

Is the zenith of escape and safety in a world of uncertainty and madness.

Which brings me to tonite's escapist fare...

Tonight, I hope to sit down in the middle of my small apartment.

As my wife sleeps, and am going to watch "Touching The Void",.

A true mountain climbing near tragedy film. I've heard great things about it, and (nearly as important) I picked it up used for $6.00! Anyway,.

I'll write a short review on it later.

To finish, my intension isn't to bum anyone out (the title of my.

Journal page is a bit melancholy), but perhaps to connect with others like myself. Its a tough disease to live with, and not many are "cured",.

But there are many, many of us out there.

P.S. I'm going to pre-rate this movie a "7", just so I can upload this.

Entry. I'll add an addendum, up or down, later.

Your pal,.

D.I.

---.

ADDENDUM-.

THIS IS A TRUE STORY.

Ok, saw the movie... OH MY GOD. What these guys went through is.

Beyond belief. To summarize- they climb a huge freakin' mountain,.

They try to come back down, a horrible accident leads to a heart.

Wrenching, but, ultimatley, correct, decision, that creates the.

True heart of the story; survival with seemingly no hope, and prevailing.

Against the worst that God and nature can create.

What impressed me nearly as much as the story itself was that the film.

Makers allowed the main subjects (who are the actual people speaking,.

Not actors) to be themselves. We as an audience should be intellegent.

Enough to realize that when they speak, they aren't choked up.

With emotion when we think they should be (which is a self serving presumption),.

For what should be an obvious reason; this happened over 10 years ago,.

They've told the story a bajillion times, and they've since recovered, thank.

You very much (for the most part...).

Anyway, this movie is an incredible journey, and the way it is told in a.

Quasi-documentary style with recreations of the climb (shot at the VERY.

Mountain it happened on!) coupled with voice over narrative by the actual.

Participants, make this experience unique, nerve wracking, exciting and.

Wonderous. Do not miss this film. New score- 10. :up::up::up::up::up::up::up::up::up::up:

P.S. Make sure you watch the extras! Just when you think this guy has suffered.

Enough...

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