Meru , the previous film by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, was considered massive hit in terms of documentary films. However, their most recent flick Free Solo surpassed its success in just about every aspect cleaning the award tables as well as collecting praise pretty much everywhere. It covers the stunning free solo ascent of FreeriderEl Capitan2307m by Alex Honnold.
The fact that the photography is stunning is hardly surprising as Jimmy Chin is known for spectacular visuals. What differentiates the film from most other climbing films is human interest side. The film also studies the person behind the feat as well a those who are close to him. This is no doubt heavily affected by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, the other half of the director duo and Chin's wife. She was already award-winning documentary film maker before she was introduced to world of climbing after meeting Chin and working on Meru . They have found excellent mix as evidenced rave reviews and all the awards.
- Free Solo (2018)Film Review: ‘Free Solo’. Alex Honnold has a dream: to climb the 3,000-foot El Capitan wall without a rope. The doc is gripping — but what about its daredevil hero? By Peter Debruge at Variety on 2018-08-31.
- Free Solo (2018)Human spirit climbs to another level in Free Solo. The audacious documentary deserves to be an Oscar winner – not only for its physical feats and film-making but also, suggests Geoff Dyer, its call to seize life. By Caty Enders at Guardian on 2019-02-22.
- Live Beyond Fear: Jimmy Chin & Chai Vasarhelyi on 'Free Solo'. Jimmy Chin & Chai Vasarhelyi are the filmmaking duo behind 'Free Solo' - – a riveting portrait of Alex Honnold as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream to free solo the world’s most famous rock – the 3,200 face of El Capitan in Yosemite -- without a rope. It's an accomplishment the NYT called “one of the greatest athletic feats of any kind ever.” This is their story. By Rich Roll.
- Box Office: ‘Free Solo’ Becomes Second-Biggest Documentary of 2018. “Free Solo,” the herculean tale of one man’s quest to climb Yosemite’s El Capitan mountain without a rope, has just cleared another massive feat. By Rebecca Rubin at Variety on 2019-02-03.
- ‘Free Solo’ Is the Best Climbing Movie Ever Made. In their new film, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin capture Alex Honnold’s historic ropeless El Cap climb and the emotional toll it took on everyone around him. By Peter Vigneron at Outside on 2018-09-26.
- Climb into the action with the inspirational director of Free Solo. Award-winning filmmaker Elizabeth Chai Vasarherlyi shares her insight on making it in a male-dominated industry, her film mentors, and balancing multiple projects while raising a family. By Chris Van Leuven at Red Bull on 2018-11-23.
- Oscars: ‘Free Solo’ Wins Best Documentary Feature. ‘Free Solo,’ starring Alex Honnold and directed by Jimmy Chin and E. Chai Vasarhelyi, won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 91st Academy Awards. By Nate Mitka at Outside on 2019-02-24.
- The world gasps in the aftermath of Alex Honnold's free solo of El Capitan's Freerider (5.13a, 3,000'). Alex Honnold swore his friends to secrecy for almost two years while he prepared to carry out the unthinkable: a free ascent of El Capitan without a rope. At approximately 5:30 a.m. on June 3, a handful of those friends readied their cameras as Honnold laced his climbing shoes, fastened a chalk bag around his waist and started up Freerider (VI 5.13a, 3,000'). By Derek Franz at Alpinist on 2017-06-08.
- Exclusive: Alex Honnold Completes the Most Dangerous Free-Solo Ascent Ever. The climber is the first person to reach the top of Yosemite’s 3,000-foot El Capitan wall without ropes. By Mark Synnott at National Geographic on 2018-10-03.
- Alex Honnold free solos Freerider, El Capitan. Alex Honnold has become the first climber to free solo El Capitan in Yosemite, by climbing Freerider. On 3rd June 2017, Honnold left all ropes and gear at the bottom of the 3000ft monolith and began climbing at 5:32am, topping out in 3 hours and 56 minutes. This ascent marks the pinnacle so far of Honnold's breathtaking CV, and is undoubtedly one of the most significant ascents in the history of the sport. By Nick Brown at UKC Climbing on 2017-06-03.
- Alex Honnold's first interview after free-solo climbing El Capitan. Honnold reveals how he accomplished the greatest feat in rock climbing history. By Mark Synnott at National Geographic on 2018-10-03.