IMDb > Touching the Void (2003)
Touching the Void
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Touching the Void (2003) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 4)
Touching the Void (2003) -- Trailer
Touching the Void (2003) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   10,674 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Joe Simpson (book)
Contact:
View company contact information for Touching the Void on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 December 2003 (UK) more
Tagline:
The closer you are to death. The more you realize you are alive. more
Plot:
The true story of two climbers and their perilous journey up the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
5 wins & 7 nominations more
User Comments:
Awesome - in the truest sense of the word more (137 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Brendan Mackey ... Joe Simpson
Nicholas Aaron ... Simon Yates
Richard Hawking ... Himself
Joe Simpson ... Himself
Simon Yates ... Himself
Ollie Ryall ... Richard Hawking
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for language.
Runtime:
106 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
At the end of the movie, there's a written line claiming that Simon faced "strong criticism" from the climbing community after his return to England. This claim has been repeated in several press statements and reviews, but it's not correct. What really happened is that, one month after his return in Europe, Simon went climbing in the Alps, unaware that the Daily Mail newspaper had published a wildly incorrect version of the Siula story, implying that Simon had tried to kill Joe. This was of course absurd, and the British climbing community dismissed it immediately as nonsense. However, back home Simon discovered that a small group of senior members of the Mount Everest Foundation (the body that manages founding for climbing expeditions in the Greater Ranges) had misjudged the story and now wanted Simon excluded in the future from the MEF funds - a move that could basically kill Simon's climbing career. At this point however, Joe Simpson had a correct version of the Siula story published in a respected climbing magazine, and the whole issue was cleared. However, in the DVD commentary, Joe Simpson himself clearly says that Simon came under much criticism after returning home, and that he wrote Touching the Void to defend Simon. more
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: After Joe pulls the rope completely down while in the crevasse, the cut rope end is frayed. Later when looking at the rope end again, it's a nice clean cut. more
Quotes:
Joe Simpson: Bloody hell... I'm gonna die to Boney M. more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Brown Girl in the Ring more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
15 out of 17 people found the following comment useful.
Awesome - in the truest sense of the word, 16 July 2004
9/10
Author: dbborroughs from Glen Cove, New York

The story of what happens when two British climbers try to reach the top of a previous unclimbed mountain is one of the most spellbinding films in years. A hybrid of talking heads and re-enactments this movie is one of the best films (on mountain climbing) ever made. You'll forgive me but its hard not to speak in terms like, best, greatest, ect when you talk about this film. I think its all best summed up by the term, "WOW!!!"

I can only imagine what this would be like on a big screen, where the sense of scale would be overwhelming. Not having been able to see this on a big screen I've had to make due with the DVD, which contains an extra called "What happened next..." which is what you'll want to know once the credits start to roll.

My only complaint, and its a small one, is that the pace of the second half could be a bit tighter, other wise this is simply a great great movie.

9 out of 10.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Touching the Void (2003)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Any idea why the director is a bad guy? delcater
Why doesn't Joe cut the rope? evejeune
How did the camera guy get up there k00ldude
Superb! ChaseWolf
hummm... Do you think Joe exaggerated the facts a bit? barrs6
A great compliment to the book aerophex1
more

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