Film Review: Free Solo
A Dizzying Look at Free Solo Climbing
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s new documentary Free Solo is a thrilling look at the most dangerous form of climbing through the eyes of Alex Honnold, one of the most accomplished free climbers of all time. The film follows Honnold as he attempts to scale the daunting El Capitan rock formation in Yosemite National Park without the use of ropes or protective gear. Glib psychoanalysis periodically threatens to sap the film’s energy, but every second focused on Honnold’s daredevil ascent is breathtaking and gut-wrenching, transforming it into one of the best documentaries of the year. Minor spoilers ahead…
In the heart of Yosemite lies El Capitan, a gargantuan stone monolith that stretches over 3,200 feet high. Alex Honnold, a prolific 32-year old free solo climber, prepares to make his way up the intimidating vertical slab without the help of any ropes, harnesses, or protective gear of any kind. The headstrong adventurer is the subject of Free Solo, a new documentary from filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. Just the thought of such a monumental feat, coupled with sweeping drone footage of the rock and its various impossible-seeming impasses, is more than enough to give any layperson heart palpitations, and this is all before Honnold even lays a rope-free hand on the rock.
The buildup to Honnold’s climb is melodramatic but effective, and the filmmakers’ expertly laid out exposition carries equal parts of dread, awe, and majesty that emphasizes the gravity of his upcoming ascent (especially chilling is a dark montage of dead free solo climbers). A stray gust of wind, a startled bird, or any single misstep on Honnold’s part will send him tumbling into the void and to his death, and Free Solo never stops reminding its audience of the danger that lies ahead. The first hour or so of the film fills in Honnold’s backstory while the filmmakers detail the trickiest parts of the climb and debate the ethics of potentially filming a friend’s grisly death. Rope-assisted practice runs instill excitement as well as lingering dread as Honnold maps out methodical solutions to stomach-churning dilemmas such as “The Boulder Problem” or “The Karate Kick,” all of which require unfathomable dexterity and an iron grip to solve, and the fact that he doesn’t always succeed in these dry runs only compounds the audience’s concern.
Vasarhelyi and Chin’s portrait of Honnold as a human being is an intriguing prelude to the big climb, and it’s evident early on that the daredevil climber is unlike other people. Driven, obsessed, and almost certainly on the spectrum in some regard, Honnold makes a captivating documentary subject, but unfortunately, Free Solo doesn’t really have the time or resources to effectively unpack Honnold’s psyche, and much of the psychoanalysis is too brief and cursory to be convincing. Whether it’s a fleeting mention of his late inaccessible father or a visit to an MRI to explore Honnold’s differently-wired brain, the film’s quick asides don’t do much to color in his motivations. However, Free Solo shines much more brightly when it gets to show instead of tell, and the documentary is at its best when it showcases Honnold’s interactions with those around him. Whether it’s his girlfriend, his fellow climbers, or the filmmaking crew itself, everyone has to grapple with Honnold’s obsession with the dangerous sport, and it makes for fascinating viewing. A spotlight on Sanni McCandless, Honnold’s girlfriend, is especially compelling as she attempts to coax empathy from the single-minded climber and come to terms with the fact that one day, he may not come home. Her ask is simple and reasonable: for her existence and their relationship to factor into Honnold’s choice to free solo climb. “Would putting me into the equation actually ever change anything?” “No,” he replies. “But I appreciate your concerns.” It’s a work in progress.
This brings us to the climb itself. Honnold’s backstory and his preparation are appetizers, but most audiences have come for the actual climb, and Free Solo more than delivers. Nail-biting and terrifying, Honnold’s ascent to the top of El Capitan is some of the most propulsive and suspenseful sports footage ever documented. Unlike fiction, this is real life with very real stakes, and watching him methodically negotiate his way up the 3,200-foot stone face is a sight to behold, or not behold - nervous energy permeates the air, and even some of the cameramen can’t bear to watch. Accompanied by a booming Marco Beltrami score and astonishing wide drone shots of Honnold’s climb, Free Solo deserves to be seen in theaters with mouths agape and palms sweaty.
There is a saying in climber culture: “There are old climbers and there are bold climbers. There are no old, bold climbers.” By free soloing El Capitan, Alex Honnold has proven himself to be the boldest of the bold. And perhaps, by accomplishing the near-impossible, it will be enough for him. But, as Honnold’s mother says: “I think when he’s free soloing is when he feels the most alive, the most…everything. How can you even think about taking that away from someone?”
