Touching the Void (2003)

Calificación de los usuarios:

8.1/10   

Director:

Kevin Macdonald

Guionista:

Joe Simpson (book)

Fecha de Lanzamiento:

12 diciembre 2003 (UK)

Género:

Documental | Aventura | Drama | Deporte

Frase comercial:

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

Premios:

5 wins & 7 nominations

Comentarios de los usuarios:

Egotism Meets Nature's Wrath

Reparto

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

También conocida como:

Touching the Void (Argentina) (festival title) [es]

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Duración:

106 min

País:

UK

Idioma:

Inglés

Color:

Color

Relación de Aspecto:

1.85 : 1

Sonido:

Dolby Digital

Clasificación:

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

Locaciones de Filmación:

Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France

Compañía:

Darlow Smithson Productions

Trivialidades:

Again at the end of the movie, another line claims that the route opened by Simon and Joe has never been repeated. This 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 Buehler, one of the most talented US alpine-style climbers, repeated the route with a companion. In the last section (the one covered by Joe and Simon in their last day on the West face), Buehler decided conditions were too dangerous, and thus opened a more direct variant (humorously named "Avoiding The Touch") going straight up the summit, more technically difficult but safer. They went up the summit ridge but not to the summit proper (as Joe had originally considered), choosing to descend back the climbing route in order to avoid the treacherous North Ridge.

Errores:

Personal o Equipo Visible: When Joe reaches the bottom of the crevasse (00:59:57) and starts crawling on his stomach towards the sunlight, you can clearly see the blue helmet of another person.

Citas:

Joe Simpson: I didn't put a knot into the end of the rope. If there was nothing down there, I would fall, and it would be quick.

Conexiones de Película:

Referenced in The Making of 'Touching the Void' (2003) (TV)

Banda de Sonido:

Brown Girl in the Ring

Egotism Meets Nature's Wrath

Beautiful scenery and excellent cinematography highlight this true-life story of two young adventurers who, in 1985, attempt to be the first climbers to reach the top of imposing Siula Grande, in Peru. The two actual climbers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, narrate the story, while two stand-in actors re-enact the climbing.

A big part of the film is Joe's quest merely to survive, once he becomes separated from Simon. Toward this objective, he calls forth inner strength in the form of two mental processes: first, make a decision and then act on it; second, set small goals or targets. During his ordeal a part of him keeps pushing: "You have to do this, this, and this, if you're going to get there; come on, keep moving, keep moving; right, get up, and do it again".

In a docudrama like this, acting ability is not that important. What is important is the cinematography. The mountain scenery is spectacular. The camera also captures visual perspective, by backing away from the two climbers, or Joe alone in the second half, to reveal how small and insignificant they are against the towering mountain face, or lost within the vast expanse of a huge glacier, peppered with a maze of dangerous crevasses.

The story is certainly harrowing. And I admire how Joe kept going, in the face of such adversity. However, I must say that overall I was not impressed with Simpson or Yates, both of whom came across in the film and in the DVD special features as overly ambitious, opportunistic, and egotistical. Joe as much as admits it: "We didn't give a damn about anyone else or anything else, and we just wanted to climb the world ..." This kind of cavalier attitude is not uncommon among participants in extreme sports, many of whom participate less for the adventure than for the opportunity to set records and make money.

"Touching The Void" is a great story of survival set amid the majestic splendor of the mountains of Peru. The only thing that would have made the story even better is if the two actual climbers had not been so arrogant. Overconfidence, born of an inflated sense of self-importance, almost cost them their lives.