Free Solo

The most fearless among mountaineers are the free solo climbers who don’t use ropes or any other kind of safety equipment. They also climb at great heights, so even the tiniest mistake could be fatal. This is Alex Honnold’s speciality.

Free Solo follows the American soloist Honnold as he prepares to climb El Capitan, the legendary 900-meter vertical rockface in Yosemite National Park. Even with safety equipment it’s an incredibly difficult climb. Ascending it requires complete focus, and Honnold believes that’s why his first attempt fails—he feels there are too many people watching, and that includes the film crew.

Honnold talks about what motivates him to be a free solo climber, and also about his fears, his family, and his blossoming relationship with fellow climber Sanni McCandless. In this next attempt, the filmmakers do their utmost to avoid distracting him. The result is an absolute thriller about an insanely impressive and courageous adventure.