The Dawn Wall & Free Solo - 'Double Bill' - Phil's Five Words for Film

Rock Climbing Double Bill. Harness yourself in for a wild time. You do not need to be a climber to appreciate wonderful film crafting.

'The Dawn Wall' (2017 Cert 15 UK 100mins) & 'Free Solo' (2018 Cert 12A UK 100mins) 

'Free Solo' is an Oscar-winning documentary (2018) about rock climber Alex Honnold as he attempts to scale Yosemite's El Capitan Wall without a safety rope. As uncomfortably crazy as it sounds and not for the faint-hearted. My recommended prequel is ‘Dawn Wall’ from 2017, to give you an idea of scale and the levels of physical fitness needed from all concerned. 'Dawn Wall' follows free climbers Tommy Caldwell and climbing partner Kevin Jorgeson, who attempt to climb a 3000ft route up El Capitan. Both films will make you marvel at the lengths some people will go to push their boundaries and the limits of possibility within sport. I would argue that 'Dawn Wall' ( Dir. Josh Lowell / Peter Mortimer) has a more complete narrative but 'Free Solo' ( Dir. Jimmy Chin / Elisabeth Chai Vasarhelyi ) has the better drama and cinematography. Tense, palm sweating, vertigo-inducing double bill documentary that highlights the daring, perseverance, wonderful camera work and climbing skills of a dedicated bunch. Insane and fantastic. Near perfect documentary making. Just don't look down. 

9 out of 10 (together and individually)

Cert 15 & 12A UK

Searching for Sugar Man - Phil's Five Words for Films

Searching for Sugar Man I love good films and I love good music. So it will come as no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed a good documentary about a good music story. In the late 1960's, a singer-songwriter known as Rodriguez was discovered in a Detroit nightclub, creating music that many thought would make him a superstar. A Latino Dylan. After recording 2 albums with leading music producers, the sales didn't match the enthusiasm and soon, rumours of his on-stage death began to spread. Meanwhile, in South Africa, the albums began the 1970's by selling in their millions and slowly fixed themselves in to the national psyche and a move towards political freedom. News of the success just didn't