“A breathtaking portrait of a man engaged in arguably the most dangerous sport in the world.” - Louis Proyect, Counterpunch.org
“You don't have to be a fan of rock climbing to love Free Solo.” - Bruce DeMara, Toronto Star
“...stunning cinematography in chronicling star rock climber Honnolds' career and his rise to the peak (so far). What's thought-provoking is [the] focus not just on the physical but the psyche of those involved...” – Diana Cheng, Ripple Effects
"Alex Honnold’s Free Solo climb should be celebrated as one of the great athletic feats of any kind, ever." - The New York Times
From award-winning documentary filmmaker Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin (the directors of “MERU”) comes FREE SOLO, a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock ... the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park ... without a rope. FREE SOLO is an edge-of-your seat thriller and an inspiring portrait of an athlete who challenges both his body and his beliefs on a quest to triumph over the impossible, revealing the personal toll of excellence. As the climber begins his training, the armor of invincibility he’s built up over decades unexpectedly breaks apart when Honnold begins to fall in love, threatening his focus and giving way to injury and setbacks. Vasarhelyi and Chin succeed in beautifully capturing deeply human moments with Honnold as well as the death-defying climb with exquisite artistry and masterful, vertigo-inducing camerawork. The result is a triumph of the human spirit that represents what The New York Times calls "a miraculous opportunity for the rest of us to experience the human sublime."
Awards: 14 Wins, 44 Nominations
Nominated, Best Documentary Feature, Academy Awards, USA, 2019
Nominated, Audience Award, Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival, 2018
Nominated, Best Documentary Feature, Camden International Film Festival, 2018
Winner, The Unforgettables, Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US, 2019
Winner, Critics Choice Documentary/Best Cinematography, Critics' Choice Documentary Awards, 2018
Winner, Audience Award, Mill Valley Film Festival, 2018
Winner, People’s Choice Award, Documentary, Toronto International Film Festival, 2018
Winner, Audience Award, Documentary Feature, Virginia Film Festival, 2018