Amazon.com
To describe Touching the Void as a mountaineering documentary would be to do this breathtaking drama an injustice. By intercutting narration from the climbers themselves with a nail-biting reconstruction of their remarkable adventure in the Peruvian Andes, the film has the best of both genres: the authentic stamp of factual storytelling and the edge-of-the-seat tension of a dramatic movie.
In 1985, two British mountaineers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, embarked on a daring--arguably reckless in the extreme--attempt to climb the previously unconquered mountain Siula Grande. A mixture of overconfidence in their own abilities and underestimation of the climb's difficulties brought them to grief after the successful slog to the summit. What follows is an often harrowing account of their perilous descent.
Based on Joe Simpson's gripping book, the film boasts glorious widescreen photography of Siula Grande and its notorious glacier. Actors take the place of the two climbers for close-ups, though Simpson did return to Peru in order to reenact parts of his dreadful crawl back down the ice. The story of Simpson's almost-superhuman fortitude has become legendary in climbing circles, and even for viewers uninterested in mountaineering, Touching the Void is an astonishing slice of real-life drama, magnificently retold. --Mark Walker
Description
From OscarÂ(r)-winning* director Kevin Macdonald comes a riveting true story a gripping, white-knuckle (The Village Voice) adventure culminating in a cliffhanger a real one (LosAngeles Times)! After scaling the never-before-conquered 21,000-foot Siula Grande, mountain climbers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates face their greatest challenge yet: getting back down. But when Simpson shatters his leg in an awful fall and the friends are separated by a series of devastating mishaps, their individual journeys become a voyage into extreme experience that should not be missed (New York Post)! *1999: Documentary Feature, One Day in September (with Arthur Cohn)
Customer Reviews:
The most gripping 'talking heads' documentary ever.......2007-08-05
This is the story of two young Brits who scaled a particularly treacherous mountain, the Siula Grande, in the Peruvian Andes in 1985. Not anticipating the difficulty of the summit climb, the ordeal of inclement weather, and even greater difficulty of the descent, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, then in their early twenties, undertook to make their ascent in one push, carrying on their backs all the supplies they expected to need. Wholely dependent upon each other for success and survival, Joe Simpson falls during their descent and suffers a particularly nasty, life-threatening broken leg. Yates then undertakes to lower Simpson on a hundred meter line through blizzard conditions until there comes that dreaded moment when he can no longer feel Simpson's tug on the line and, to save his own life, must sever it. Miraculously, Simpson survives the fall. Then each must make his way down the mountain on his own. Though it seems to doubtful that this will be possible with such a severe injury, Simpson musters enormous physical and emotional reserves to manage to survive. It's a haunting tale, and much of it is told by each man facing a camera narrating his story in nearly deadpan style. Joe Simpson wrote a book about his experience, and has gone on to become a writer. Simon Yates meanwhile has become an adventurer. To make the film, each man has to return to Siula Grande, and that turns out to be a difficult emotional journey. Filmmaker Kevin MacDonald's interweaving of the men's narratives with careful reenactments makes for a sumptuous, beautifully filmed, and riveting viewing experience. In addition, there are terrific special features telling more details of the return to civilization and what life has been like for each man since.
Touching the Void.......2007-07-30
Based on Simpson's bestselling book, this harrowing, suspenseful docudrama recreates the events of Yates and Simpson's fateful, arduous climb, sparing nothing in the traumatic details: exposure to the elements, violent snowstorms, and an icy 150-foot crevasse Yates unwittingly pitched his crippled mate into--then abandoned, believing him dead. That Simpson, the narrator, survived is a miracle in itself, but hearing his jarring account of the escape couldn't be more engrossing. For visceral thrills, "Void" is the perfect armchair adventure.
Harrowing Survival Story.......2007-04-22
Two twenty-something friends go to a formidable mountain in the Andes for mountain climbing in 1985. Facing a mountain face to climb like never before, they have the fortune of meeting a stranger who agrees to stay at their base camp. Once they start the climb, they bring the basics: a woefully short gas supply for a mini stove and a little food. They plan to "pack sack," or take the mountain "in a single push". Sort of the bare-bones rendition of backpacking and mountain climbing, they run in peril unforeseen in their young, virile lives. Testing their strength, courage, and spirit, each have crucial decisions to make collectively and individually.
As a documentary and a reinactment, the project is particularly vivid. Being able to recall and honestly share their innermost thoughts is a real draw. Partly based on Joe Simpson's book and containing the interviews of both participants; the actors for Simpson, [Brendan Mackey] and Simon Yatey (Nicholas Aaron) reconstruct their ordeal well. 'Touching the Void' is a thoroughly absorbing journey recalling a harrowing struggle to survive.
Great Show.......2007-04-15
I would recommed this show to anyone. The only part I didnt like is where he says the F word about 20 times in a row.
Awesome.......2007-03-11
This DVD was awesome in that it put the book in great perspective. It's amazing they were able to film some of the things they did. It made me greatly appreciate the book and the story more.
Amazon.com
To describe Touching the Void as a mountaineering documentary would be to do this breathtaking drama an injustice. By intercutting narration from the climbers themselves with a nail-biting reconstruction of their remarkable adventure in the Peruvian Andes, the film has the best of both genres: the authentic stamp of factual storytelling and the edge-of-the-seat tension of a dramatic movie.
In 1985, two British mountaineers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, embarked on a daring--arguably reckless in the extreme--attempt to climb the previously unconquered mountain Siula Grande. A mixture of overconfidence in their own abilities and underestimation of the climb's difficulties brought them to grief after the successful slog to the summit. What follows is an often harrowing account of their perilous descent.
Based on Joe Simpson's gripping book, the film boasts glorious widescreen photography of Siula Grande and its notorious glacier. Actors take the place of the two climbers for close-ups, though Simpson did return to Peru in order to reenact parts of his dreadful crawl back down the ice. The story of Simpson's almost-superhuman fortitude has become legendary in climbing circles, and even for viewers uninterested in mountaineering, Touching the Void is an astonishing slice of real-life drama, magnificently retold. --Mark Walker
Customer Reviews:
The most gripping 'talking heads' documentary ever.......2007-08-05
This is the story of two young Brits who scaled a particularly treacherous mountain, the Siula Grande, in the Peruvian Andes in 1985. Not anticipating the difficulty of the summit climb, the ordeal of inclement weather, and even greater difficulty of the descent, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, then in their early twenties, undertook to make their ascent in one push, carrying on their backs all the supplies they expected to need. Wholely dependent upon each other for success and survival, Joe Simpson falls during their descent and suffers a particularly nasty, life-threatening broken leg. Yates then undertakes to lower Simpson on a hundred meter line through blizzard conditions until there comes that dreaded moment when he can no longer feel Simpson's tug on the line and, to save his own life, must sever it. Miraculously, Simpson survives the fall. Then each must make his way down the mountain on his own. Though it seems to doubtful that this will be possible with such a severe injury, Simpson musters enormous physical and emotional reserves to manage to survive. It's a haunting tale, and much of it is told by each man facing a camera narrating his story in nearly deadpan style. Joe Simpson wrote a book about his experience, and has gone on to become a writer. Simon Yates meanwhile has become an adventurer. To make the film, each man has to return to Siula Grande, and that turns out to be a difficult emotional journey. Filmmaker Kevin MacDonald's interweaving of the men's narratives with careful reenactments makes for a sumptuous, beautifully filmed, and riveting viewing experience. In addition, there are terrific special features telling more details of the return to civilization and what life has been like for each man since.
Touching the Void.......2007-07-30
Based on Simpson's bestselling book, this harrowing, suspenseful docudrama recreates the events of Yates and Simpson's fateful, arduous climb, sparing nothing in the traumatic details: exposure to the elements, violent snowstorms, and an icy 150-foot crevasse Yates unwittingly pitched his crippled mate into--then abandoned, believing him dead. That Simpson, the narrator, survived is a miracle in itself, but hearing his jarring account of the escape couldn't be more engrossing. For visceral thrills, "Void" is the perfect armchair adventure.
Harrowing Survival Story.......2007-04-22
Two twenty-something friends go to a formidable mountain in the Andes for mountain climbing in 1985. Facing a mountain face to climb like never before, they have the fortune of meeting a stranger who agrees to stay at their base camp. Once they start the climb, they bring the basics: a woefully short gas supply for a mini stove and a little food. They plan to "pack sack," or take the mountain "in a single push". Sort of the bare-bones rendition of backpacking and mountain climbing, they run in peril unforeseen in their young, virile lives. Testing their strength, courage, and spirit, each have crucial decisions to make collectively and individually.
As a documentary and a reinactment, the project is particularly vivid. Being able to recall and honestly share their innermost thoughts is a real draw. Partly based on Joe Simpson's book and containing the interviews of both participants; the actors for Simpson, [Brendan Mackey] and Simon Yatey (Nicholas Aaron) reconstruct their ordeal well. 'Touching the Void' is a thoroughly absorbing journey recalling a harrowing struggle to survive.
Great Show.......2007-04-15
I would recommed this show to anyone. The only part I didnt like is where he says the F word about 20 times in a row.
Awesome.......2007-03-11
This DVD was awesome in that it put the book in great perspective. It's amazing they were able to film some of the things they did. It made me greatly appreciate the book and the story more.
Amazon.com
To describe Touching the Void as a mountaineering documentary would be to do this breathtaking drama an injustice. By intercutting narration from the climbers themselves with a nail-biting reconstruction of their remarkable adventure in the Peruvian Andes, the film has the best of both genres: the authentic stamp of factual storytelling and the edge-of-the-seat tension of a dramatic movie.
In 1985, two British mountaineers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, embarked on a daring--arguably reckless in the extreme--attempt to climb the previously unconquered mountain Siula Grande. A mixture of overconfidence in their own abilities and underestimation of the climb's difficulties brought them to grief after the successful slog to the summit. What follows is an often harrowing account of their perilous descent.
Based on Joe Simpson's gripping book, the film boasts glorious widescreen photography of Siula Grande and its notorious glacier. Actors take the place of the two climbers for close-ups, though Simpson did return to Peru in order to reenact parts of his dreadful crawl back down the ice. The story of Simpson's almost-superhuman fortitude has become legendary in climbing circles, and even for viewers uninterested in mountaineering, Touching the Void is an astonishing slice of real-life drama, magnificently retold. --Mark Walker
Customer Reviews:
The most gripping 'talking heads' documentary ever.......2007-08-05
This is the story of two young Brits who scaled a particularly treacherous mountain, the Siula Grande, in the Peruvian Andes in 1985. Not anticipating the difficulty of the summit climb, the ordeal of inclement weather, and even greater difficulty of the descent, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, then in their early twenties, undertook to make their ascent in one push, carrying on their backs all the supplies they expected to need. Wholely dependent upon each other for success and survival, Joe Simpson falls during their descent and suffers a particularly nasty, life-threatening broken leg. Yates then undertakes to lower Simpson on a hundred meter line through blizzard conditions until there comes that dreaded moment when he can no longer feel Simpson's tug on the line and, to save his own life, must sever it. Miraculously, Simpson survives the fall. Then each must make his way down the mountain on his own. Though it seems to doubtful that this will be possible with such a severe injury, Simpson musters enormous physical and emotional reserves to manage to survive. It's a haunting tale, and much of it is told by each man facing a camera narrating his story in nearly deadpan style. Joe Simpson wrote a book about his experience, and has gone on to become a writer. Simon Yates meanwhile has become an adventurer. To make the film, each man has to return to Siula Grande, and that turns out to be a difficult emotional journey. Filmmaker Kevin MacDonald's interweaving of the men's narratives with careful reenactments makes for a sumptuous, beautifully filmed, and riveting viewing experience. In addition, there are terrific special features telling more details of the return to civilization and what life has been like for each man since.
Touching the Void.......2007-07-30
Based on Simpson's bestselling book, this harrowing, suspenseful docudrama recreates the events of Yates and Simpson's fateful, arduous climb, sparing nothing in the traumatic details: exposure to the elements, violent snowstorms, and an icy 150-foot crevasse Yates unwittingly pitched his crippled mate into--then abandoned, believing him dead. That Simpson, the narrator, survived is a miracle in itself, but hearing his jarring account of the escape couldn't be more engrossing. For visceral thrills, "Void" is the perfect armchair adventure.
Harrowing Survival Story.......2007-04-22
Two twenty-something friends go to a formidable mountain in the Andes for mountain climbing in 1985. Facing a mountain face to climb like never before, they have the fortune of meeting a stranger who agrees to stay at their base camp. Once they start the climb, they bring the basics: a woefully short gas supply for a mini stove and a little food. They plan to "pack sack," or take the mountain "in a single push". Sort of the bare-bones rendition of backpacking and mountain climbing, they run in peril unforeseen in their young, virile lives. Testing their strength, courage, and spirit, each have crucial decisions to make collectively and individually.
As a documentary and a reinactment, the project is particularly vivid. Being able to recall and honestly share their innermost thoughts is a real draw. Partly based on Joe Simpson's book and containing the interviews of both participants; the actors for Simpson, [Brendan Mackey] and Simon Yatey (Nicholas Aaron) reconstruct their ordeal well. 'Touching the Void' is a thoroughly absorbing journey recalling a harrowing struggle to survive.
Great Show.......2007-04-15
I would recommed this show to anyone. The only part I didnt like is where he says the F word about 20 times in a row.
Awesome.......2007-03-11
This DVD was awesome in that it put the book in great perspective. It's amazing they were able to film some of the things they did. It made me greatly appreciate the book and the story more.
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DVD
DVD
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival
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