Let's connect!
Enjoy Mill Valley
  • HOME
  • EVENTS & GUIDES
    • 2020-21 EMV Guide
    • 2021 Mill Valley Wine, Beer & Gourmet Food Tasting
    • Winterfest >
      • About Winterfest
    • Calendar
    • Special Events
  • EAT
  • Stay
  • VISIT
    • Muir Woods
    • PLAY
    • Tour
    • Map
    • PRESS
  • SHOP
    • Enjoy Mill Valley Store
    • Shopping Areas
    • Apparel and Jewelry
    • Automotive
    • Banking & Financial Services
    • Biz, Consumer & Professional Services
    • Beauty & Grooming
    • Fitness & Sports
    • Food & Wine
    • Home & Garden
    • Kids & Pets
    • Health & Wellness
    • Nonprofit Organizations
    • Real Estate
    • Specialty Shops
  • A&E
  • EMV Films
  • BLOG
  • Mill Valley Chamber
  • City of Mill Valley
  • CONTACT US
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise on Enjoy Mill Valley
  • ShopMV

'Free Solo' Cliffhanger Delivers Spoiler-Proof, Multi-Faceted Drama at 41st Mill Valley Film Festival

10/8/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
"Free Solo" Directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin join climber Alex Honnold at an Oct. 8, 2018 screening of the film at the Mill Valley Film Festival. Photos by Kirke Wrench.
Free Solo is ostensibly a documentary about one man's quest to ascend Yosemite National Park's El Capitan – "the most impressive wall on earth" at 3,200 feet of sheer granite and "the center of the rock climbing universe," according to its subject, Sacramento native Alex Honnold – without ropes. At all. Read that again. 

That death- and gravity-defying quest induced gasps and even shrieks from the audience at the CineArts Sequoia theater this week as part of the 41st Mill Valley Film Festival, where it screened prior to its wider release in the Bay Area and beyond next week. And it did so despite the fact that most in attendance likely knew the story's ending, as Honnold's unfathomable achievement drew coverage and attention across the globe.

But the gasps weren't reserved solely for physical marvels. Free Solo also serves up another slice of high drama. As Honnold, a self-described "dark soul" who wasn't hugged by his parents as a kid and never heard the word "love," readies his ascent, he also navigates his relationship with his girlfriend Sanni McCandless, who "pretty much makes life better in every way," he says. That sentiment is a leap from earlier in the film when he admits that because his free soloing demands a near-perfection attention to detail, "I will always choose climbing over a lady – at least so far."

From exchanges with McCandless to interactions with directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, Honnold is blunt and seemingly devoid of emotion at every turn in the film. "If you're seeking perfection, free soloing is as close as you can get," Honnold says, telling McCandless about the "simmering resentment" that would come with letting their budding relationship impact his decision to embark on a quest that could lead to his death.

"Nobody achieves anything great by being happy and cozy," he adds.

Vasarhelyi, Chin and Honnold all appeared at the Oct. 8 screening and participated in a light-hearted Q&A after the film about Honnold's unfathomable achievement and the production of the film that captured it all. 

As has been the case at previous Free Solo events, Honnold was once again asked about his next free soloing quest in the wake of his El Capitan feat, and he politely deflected. But Vasarhelyi chimed in by recounting Canadian free solo climber Peter Croft's reply on behalf of Honnold: "Would you ask Neil Armstrong what planet he would you go to next?"

The 411: "Free Solo" opens in Bay Area theaters next week, including at the Smith Rafael Film Center on Monday. Oct. 15. Here's the trailer:​
Want to know what's happening around town? Click here to subscribe to the Enjoy Mill Valley Blog by Email!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Subscribe to the free Enjoy Mill Valley Blog

    * required
    Click here to subscribe to the free Enjoy Mill Valley Blog by Email!

    RSS Feed

    Blog Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    Categories

    All
    142 Throckmorton
    Art
    Arts & Entertainment
    City Council
    City Of Mill Valley
    County Of Marin
    Depot Plaza
    Downtown Mill Valley
    Emergency Preparedness
    First Tuesday Artwalk
    Food & Drink
    Holidays
    Kiddo!
    Live Music
    Local Laws
    Marin Mommies
    Marin Theatre Company
    Miller Avenue
    Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival
    Mill Valley Film Festival
    Mill Valley History
    Mill-valley-in-the-news
    Mill Valley Library
    Mill Valley Market
    Mill Valley School District
    Mount Tamalpais
    MV Chamber Biz Buzz
    Parks & Recreation
    Philanthropy
    Public Restrooms
    Restaurants
    Shopping
    Strawberry Village
    Sweetwater Music Hall
    Tam High
    Tam Junction
    Tam Valley
    The Redwoods
    Volunteerism

Picture
   
85 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley, Callifornia 94941
415.388.9700
info@millvalley.org



Copyright 2018 Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center
All images used with permission and/or source attribution.
Site Design by Linda Rosso Marketing and Communications