Based on the best selling book of the same name,Touching The Void recreates a 1985 mountaineering expedition that explores a man’s commitment to survival and forbearance. British mountaineers Simon Yates and Joe Simpson made a bold attempt to scale Siula Grande, a mystical unconquered peak in the Andes of Peru. This Banff Film Festival-meets-the big screen documentary, builds from a rather carefree beginning to an intense story that grapples your attention, as the ensuing drama unfolds.
After the climbing partners meet their summit goal in the film’s first moments, barely enough time to hint at any type of hardships – trouble quickly arises. As most high mountain elements change from polar opposites quicker than Bill Parcells’ temper; Yates and Simpson soon find themselves in an immediate mission to return to the placid base camp. Simpson soon breaks his leg descending, and is summoned to be roped down the mountain by his climbing partner. Yates becomes imposed in the ruthless position of protecting his own life or sacrificing his safety, for the life of his friend. As the roping to the bottom commences a few yards at a time, Simpson soon finds himself flailing at the edge of the mountain, with only a leash of rope communicating between themselves, as the two were are longer able to hear or see one another. This leads to the since debated question – either hold on to the rope and risk both lives, or let loose, with one seeing the daylight and one finding the dark. As climbing itself is a constant battle of risking death, this particular situation today is still debated in climbing circles, as Yates was left to cut the rope, allowing Simpson to free fall further down the mountain into a dark void. Miraculously he survives the fall, but that is only the beginning of the battle.
The film flips between interview narrative shots of the real life Simpson and Yates, and the recreation scenes played by Nicholas Aaron and Brendan Mackey with so-so validity. Sub-par acting talents withstanding, director Kevin Macdonald’s effort on emotionally detailing a man’s bout with survival; when in this case, death appeared to be the easy way out. Simpson, with a broken leg, no food, suffering hallucinations, disorientation, self-doubt, anger but stubborn perseverance, slowly traffics himself down the mountain. It’s during these moments of the film, watching him cling to life, that makes the passive viewer feel dehydrated and emotionally whipped as the film commences. A job well done of holding the viewers attention, and building a gradual relationship with Simpson in his dire efforts for suvival.
Touching The Void, is a strong documentary for the outdoorsy kind and for those intrigued by vivid tales of emotional and physical distress and endurance. Although the ending leaves many unanswered questions that pertain directly to the climb and the two men’s post climbing relationship, the drama is intense enough to let some of the script letdowns pass without reproach.
