The bitter, biting cold, snow as far as the eye can see, breathtaking landscapes, deep precipices, mountain peaks on the horizon… if you’re missing the mountains raise your hand!
In these difficult and wearying times even our ability to experience the mountains the way we normally do has had to go. But don’t despair! You can still immerse yourself in the unique, unparalleled beauty and excitement that the mountains can give without even leaving home. How?
Here’s a selection of 7 unmissable films and documentaries to enjoy from your sofa:
THE VALLEY UPRISING
Winner of the BANFF Mountain Film Festival, The Valley Uprising is a 2014 documentary film directed by Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen and Josh Lowell. Light-hearted and hugely entertaining, it tells the story of mountaineering in America from the 1920s to the present day. It’s centred in the Yosemite Valley, the place where it all began.
From climbing to mountaineering to free soloing, in 90 minutes The Valley Uprising tells the story of the characters involved in the evolution of these fascinating and engaging disciplines.
Suitable for all the family, The Valley Uprising is available online on Netflix.
THE DAWN WALL
A 2017 documentary film produced by Sender films, The Dawn Wall can be seen as a continuation of the Yosemite Valley story (and therefore of The Valley Uprising), with a particular focus on Tommy Caldwell, the great American mountaineer, climber and athlete.
A more sports-oriented documentary film with spectacular camera work, The Down Wall tells his story from childhood to his most celebrated climb: the free ascent of Down Wall, considered the most difficult rock face in the world.
The Dawn Wall is available online on YouTube and on Netflix.
MESSNER, THE FILM.
An extraordinary figure of international fame, Reinhold Messner was the first man to climb all fourteen of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks. Messner, the Film tells of his life and his incredible mountaineering exploits as chronicled by numerous videos of the time, as well as interviews with Messner himself and the people whose paths he crossed on the way to the summits, including Peter Habeler and Hans Kammerlander.
Messner, the Film is available on YouTube and Prime Video.
MOUNTAIN
What is the relationship between mankind and nature? Based on the book Mountains of the Mind by Robert Macfarlane, Mountain is a 2017 film directed by Jennifer Peedom, a dense concentrate of crazy images and emotions. Guided by the narrator’s voice and a moving soundtrack, Mountain addresses the relationship between humans and nature in a climax of exciting and engaging scenes.
Mountain is available online on Netflix.
FREE SOLO
Not to be missed – though not available on the best-known streaming platforms – Free Solo is a powerful film that will have you glued to your seat. Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmi Chin, Free Solo won the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2019.
Its appeal lies in the story of an extraordinary achievement – Alex Honnold’s solo ascent of the Nose route on El Capitan in the Yosemite National Park – with breathtaking footage and a particular focus on the psychological factors behind a climb of this type.
Free Solo is available for purchase or rental on YouTube.
SILENCE
Silence, a film by Bernardo Giménez, takes its name from the climbing route situated in the Hanshelleren cave at Flatanger in Norway, the first 9c-graded climb in the world. The film portrays the events leading up to 3 September 2017, the day when Adam Ondra, one of the best professional climbers in the world, wrote his name in history by conquering this incredible route after several months of trying.
Silence is available to watch on YouTube.
KILIAN JORNET PATH TO EVEREST
This film tells the story of Kilian Jornet, who, on 22 May 2017, became the first person to climb Everest in 26 hours and 31 minutes, setting out from the Rongbuk monastery (5,100 metres). He repeated the feat less than a week later, on 27 May, this time starting from the Tibetan advance base camp and taking 17 hours to reach the summit.
Solo and without oxygen, Kilian’s exploit aroused considerable controversy.
Kilian Jornet Path to Everest is available on Prime Video.
