Free Solo (12A)****
Dirs: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Runtime: 100 minutes
ONE to put in the diary for after Christmas is this stunning documentary about Alex Honnold. The American is a free solo climber, which means he climbs without a rope, or any means of saving himself if he should lose his grip. As we see from Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi’s film, it is as dangerous as it sounds. No one has ever solo climbed the 3000-feet El Capitan in Yosemite, which makes it number one on Honnold’s to do list. Genuinely thrilling, this is a must see on the big screen.
DCA, December 21-27; Glasgow Film Theatre, December 28; Filmhouse, Edinburgh, December 28-January 1; Belmont Filmhouse, December 26-31.
The Yukon Assignment (PG)***
Dir: Chris Lucas
Runtime: 86 minutes
CHRIS Lucas earns his living taking people on adventures, but how would he fare on a three-week, 500-mile trek with his dad? The pair set out to find the answer in this likeable documentary. The Canadian landscape is breathtaking, with plenty of shots of the local wildlife, including, at one particularly exciting point, a young bear keen to meet them. Lucas and his dad Niall prove easy going types, so if you are looking for conflict and bickering, or the spilling of secrets, you will be disappointed. But if a gentle, quietly inspiring film is in order, watching this is one assignment you’ll be glad to complete.
Glasgow Film Theatre, December 28-29
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