Touching the Void (2003)

Director:

Kevin Macdonald

Writer:

Joe Simpson (book)

Release Date:

12 December 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary | Adventure | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

The closer you are to death. The more you realize you are alive.

Plot:

The true story of two climbers and their perilous journey up the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985.

Plot Keywords:

Rope | Disaster | Crevasse | Broken Leg | Delirium

Awards:

5 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

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

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Germany:12 | Netherlands:MG6 | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France

Company:

Darlow Smithson Productions

Trivia:

Also at the end of the movie, another line claims that the route opened by Simon and Joe has never been repeated. This is also partially incorrect. Political unrest in the area (because of Sendero Luminoso activities) prevented climbers to reach Siula for many years. However, in 1999, Carlos Buhler, one of the most talented US alpine-style climbers, repeated the route with a companion, Mark Price. In the upper half of the face (the one covered by Joe and Simon in their last day on the West face), Buhler/Price continued directly upwards on steep mixed ground where Yates/Simpson had moved right, over an ice rib, and into the huge, right slanting gully fanning open towards the top. This route led directly to what arguably was the true summit, a point that appears higher than the southern tip of the ridge. This new direct variant (humorously named "Avoiding The Touch") led straight up to this summit, and was more technically difficult but safer. Once on top of the peak, they left their rucksacks and traversed on easy terrain along the airy ridge to the south until they stood on the point Simpson/Yates considered the top, the point where the ridge dropped off very steeply towards Siula Chico. They then retraced their footsteps back to their first "summit" and continued northwards along the same ridge that Simpson/Yates had descended. However, after descending several hundred horizontal meters and enduring a sixth bivouac (on this airy ridge) Buhler/Price decided to rappel directly down the West Face instead of continuing North along the very exposed and corniced ridge. After 20 sixty meter rappels, they rappelled over the bergshrund about 2-300 meters north of where Joe had been dropped into the bergshrund when Simon had cut the rope. Buhler/Price had deep respect for the route of descent that the two Brits had negotiated and were in awe of their ability to descend it in the condition they were in.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Joe wears a model of Cebe glacier glasses that didn't enter production until 2001.

Quotes:

Joe Simpson: Bloody hell... I'm gonna die to Boney M.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Touching the Void: Return to Siula Grande (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Brown Girl in the Ring

Awesome - in the truest sense of the word

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.