‘Free Solo’ is Sublime
Alex Honnold is the man who devotes his life to climbing mountains and buildings without a rope (also known as ‘free soloing’). One mistake, he falls and dies. A documentary on such a fascinating figure just needs to be competent to be great. The movie goes a little beyond that.
‘Free Solo’ is a documentary that follows Alex Honnold’s greatest achievement: training to climb the mountain ‘El Capitan’ without a rope. He practices for years before finally doing it. He climbs the 2900 foot mountain in 4 hours without any rope. The greatest Athletic feat in human history.
Why would someone devote themselves to this? With such high risks? On the surface, it feels like there’s no practical purpose to climb a mountain without a rope. You’re not reducing world hunger, you’re not becoming the president. What’s the point? Even more so when the risk of free soloing is death? And even the day-to-day life of a climber. You get little to no money for a very long time. You live in a small van with little to no social interaction. Why do this?
What’s fascinating is that all the people around him: his girlfriend, his mother, the film crew, the climber he practices with. None of them ever look like they’re supporting him. None of them ever tells him ‘what you’re doing is a great idea. I’m all for it’. Most of the film crew look like they’re reluctant and fearful. Some people, such as his girlfriend or his climbing partner, has actively tried to discourage him from doing free soloing. And yet they’re still along for the ride to help him. And Alex, just like any other world-class professional, ignores any discouragement and just continues working.
We get a brief portrait of Alex in this movie. He grew up as a shy, socially awkward boy. Maybe now still a little depressed, still struggling to express his emotions. But he’s also quite a likable, and charismatic speaker (his monologue about the warrior spirit and ‘face your fear, because your goal demands it’ is particularly haunting). He’s very generous as well, donating one-third of the money he makes to charities and environmental non-profits. And quite mystically, this person decides to devote his life to climbing mountains without a rope. You could say after the movie we’re left with more questions than answers. But of course we would. Someone that remarkable will always remain an enigma. A movie just aims to reduce that enigma a little.
The final 20 minutes of the movie where Alex finally climbs the 2900 foot mountain without a rope, is of course mesmerising. Jaw-dropping, edge of your seat, pin-drop silence. How can it not be?
Everybody wants to fulfill their dreams. But for most, something stops them in life. Whether it be family, money, societal expectations, fear, getting arrested (if you’re doing something political). But for a few people in history: a Jesus, a Gandhi, a Buddha. They are willing to give up everything, even their life, to fulfill their highest potential. And it is such people who do remarkable things, that reduce suffering to millions, that turn the tides of history.
Alex Honnold is one of those people. Just like any sport, there’s no direct practical benefit to people when you climb a mountain, or dribble a ball or run 100 meters. The benefit lies in the values it inspires. Greatness in one area inspires greatness in another. And for Alex he expresses those values most effectively, not in politics or business, but in climbing a mountain. And it is such people who risk their life to inspire greatness in others, those are the people who revolutionise the world