About Free Solo

Free Solo is a 2018 American documentary film directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. The film provides a detailed insight into the life and climb of professional rock climber Alex Honnold as he prepares and successfully accomplishes his lifelong dream to free solo climb the world's most famous rock - the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park - without a rope.

Making / Production

The production of the film was a daring and challenging endeavor by co-directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. The shooting of the film involved the filming crew mastering how to shoot on the cliffside, ensuring that they wouldn't distract Alex during his climb.

Actors

• Alex Honnold - The central figure of the documentary. As himself, he showcased his extraordinary skills, dogged determination, and love for solitude.
• Sanni McCandless - As herself, Honnold's girlfriend, offering important support as he prepares for and conducts his climb.
• Tommy Caldwell - As himself, a professional climber and mentor to Honnold.
• Jimmy Chin - Apart from directing, he also appeared as himself to document Alex's daredevil climb.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The entire El Capitan climb took just under four hours for Honnold to complete.
• The cameramen were all professional climbers who could shoot within a few feet of Honnold while remaining safe and not distracting him.
• During the filming of the documentary, Chin and Vasarhelyi got married and had their first child.

Awards

The documentary won several awards including the Best Documentary Feature at the 91st Academy Awards and Best Documentary at the BAFTA Awards.

Quotes

• "The whole pursuit of this dream has allowed me to live an adventure-filled life."
• "There's no margin for error. Imagine an Olympic gold medal level athletic achievement that if you don't get that gold medal, you're going to die."

Music, Soundtrack

• "Free Solo" - Original Music by Marco Beltrami
• "Gravity" by Tim McGraw and Lori McKenna, specially written and recorded for the film.