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Touching
the Void is an intensely personal and honest account of what must
be the most famous and controversial mountaineering epic of modern
times.
The
descriptions, strength of the story and startling cinematography
mean that it is not a film only for climbers.
All
will wonder at the reserves of stamina present in the human body,
the stubborn refusal of Joe Simpson to die, the reason people put
themselves into positions of such extreme risk and discomfort and
perhaps at philosophical questions of fate and chance.
It
gives a frighteningly real and unique insight into what it is like
to climb hard routes in terrible conditions, and to the circumstances
that led Simon Yates to cut the rope connecting himself to a dangling
Joe Simpson - consigning Simpson to probable death.
It
is not a sensationalised Hollywood blockbuster, which I did fear,
and Joe Simpson and Simon Yates' accounts of their feeling and thought
processes throughout the ordeal are fascinating, moving and humorous.
The
film captures the commitment and risk inherent in modern 'alpine
style' climbing, where climbers venture onto long difficult climbs
carrying only enough food, fuel, clothing and equipment for one
all out attempt - forsaking the lifeline of fixed ropes down which
to escape and extra supplies for the ability to move fast.
When
things go wrong these climbers are completely isolated and alone
- battling time and nature to survive.
The
story and filming of Touching the Void illustrates this horrifyingly
well and I left the cinema in nervous exhaustion.
This
is a must see film.
Review
by Jim Gordon
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