Free Solo (2018) is a documentary film that follows professional rock climber Alex Honnold as he prepares for and attempts to climb El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite rock face in Yosemite National Park, without ropes or safety equipment—a type of climbing known as “free soloing.”
Story Overview:
The film, directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, provides a deep dive into both the physical challenges and mental mindset required for such a dangerous feat. It captures Honnold’s meticulous preparation, his near-obsessive training, and the risks involved in climbing a sheer rock wall where any small mistake could mean death.
As the story unfolds, we see how Honnold’s personal life and relationships, especially with his girlfriend Sanni McCandless, are affected by his single-minded focus on free soloing. The film explores his emotional detachment, his struggles with intimacy, and his fearlessness—qualities that both enable and complicate his pursuit.
The climax of the film is his historic ascent of El Capitan on June 3, 2017, which he completes in just under four hours, making him the first person to ever free solo the rock face. The cinematography captures the breathtaking and nerve-wracking climb, immersing the audience in the tension of the moment.
