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From Amazon.co.uk
A gripping, harrowing true-life story told with real skill, Touching The Void is one of the finest documentaries of recent years. It mixes in recreations of real life events with interviews, building up a head of tension that makes it hard to turn your eyes away from.
The story itself centres on two British mountain climbers by the name of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates. They head off to the Andes to climb Siula Grande, yet some way into the expedition, Joe Simpson falls and breaks his leg. At this stage he’s still attached to the support rope of Simon Yates, who struggles to bear his weight, and faces an impossible choice between continuing to hang on and face certain death, or cutting the rope and sending his friend plummeting down the side of the mountain.
Not only is this an extraordinary story, but it’s one that Touching The Void tells exceptionally well, with a focus and skill that rightly attracted the interest of award-givers. That those involved in the real-life adventure are telling you the story adds a real weight to the film, and director Kevin Macdonald--he who was behind the Oscar-winning One Day In September--weaves it all together quite brilliantly.
An unforgettable piece of cinema for many reasons, Touching The Void is an extraordinary telling of an extraordinary tale, and one that simply demands to be seen. Do make sure you see it. --Simon Brew
Product Description
Kevin MacDonald's ('A Day in September') docu-drama is based on a true story. In 1985 two ambitious young British mountaineers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, set off to scale the treacherous west face of the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. They reached the summit on day three, but shortly after starting the descent Simpson fell and broke his leg badly. This accident turned their daring expedition into a desperate fight for survival, when Yates had to decide whether to stay with Simpson and wait to be rescued (and possibly die) or leave him behind to save his own life.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By D. I. Shipley
VINE™ VOICE
Format:HD DVD
In 1985 two young mountaineers - Joe Simpson and Simon Yates decided to climb the so far unclimbed West Face of Siula Grande, a remote peak of 21,000 ft. in the Peruvian Andes. So remote is this mountain that it could only be approached on horseback and then by walking the rest of the way that is unpassable to horses or donkeys...
Using "the Alpine technique" of literally just packing everything into a rucksack and doing the climb in one hit, instead, of the more conventional method of doing the climb in stages and using various camps along the way, they make it to the top of the previously unclimbed Siula Grande.
On the way down, tragedy strikes when Joe falls and horribly smashes his lower leg through his knee cap. Simon then tries to lower the injured Joe down from the mountain. However, when Joe is left hanging over a ravine and dragging Simon inexorably towards a 300ft drop, Simon makes the decision to cut the rope and Joe falls 150ft into a ravine. Simon believing Joe to be dead then makes his way back down the mountain.
Miraculously, Joe survived the fall and despite his shattered leg, slowly and painfully crawled back down the mountain becoming ever weaker and going into delirium. Against all the odds he made it down to be found by Joe at the bottom and rescued.
Both returned to the UK and Simon faced considerable hostility from many within the UK climbing community including leading climbers for cutting the rope on his climbing partner.
Joe however backed Simon's decision and both climbers maintain to this day that they would have both died, if that rope had not been cut....
This is a superb reconstruction of that fateful climb and is shot on location at Siula Grande which is one of the most beautiful, desolate, and terrifying places on Earth.... Read more ›
Using "the Alpine technique" of literally just packing everything into a rucksack and doing the climb in one hit, instead, of the more conventional method of doing the climb in stages and using various camps along the way, they make it to the top of the previously unclimbed Siula Grande.
On the way down, tragedy strikes when Joe falls and horribly smashes his lower leg through his knee cap. Simon then tries to lower the injured Joe down from the mountain. However, when Joe is left hanging over a ravine and dragging Simon inexorably towards a 300ft drop, Simon makes the decision to cut the rope and Joe falls 150ft into a ravine. Simon believing Joe to be dead then makes his way back down the mountain.
Miraculously, Joe survived the fall and despite his shattered leg, slowly and painfully crawled back down the mountain becoming ever weaker and going into delirium. Against all the odds he made it down to be found by Joe at the bottom and rescued.
Both returned to the UK and Simon faced considerable hostility from many within the UK climbing community including leading climbers for cutting the rope on his climbing partner.
Joe however backed Simon's decision and both climbers maintain to this day that they would have both died, if that rope had not been cut....
This is a superb reconstruction of that fateful climb and is shot on location at Siula Grande which is one of the most beautiful, desolate, and terrifying places on Earth.... Read more ›
39 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I reluctantly went to see this with a friend of mine,expecting to be bored out of my mind. After all a documentary about climbing isn't exactly my usual idea of fun. However, I was absolutely blown away. I remember coming out of the cinema and actually being speechless. This was a true story which is absolutely unbelievable. The beauty of this is that the real people are narrating the story, not actors. This is a really inspirational film for anyone, not just climbers. It really expresses the human instinct to stay alive and to not be alone. It makes you realise how through sheer willpower and determination human beings are capable of very extraordinary things. an awesome film!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is an amazing piece of film work. Its not fiction - but a reconstruction of an actual event that occured in the Andes. I was gripped from beginning to end. The story is interspersed with interviews with the two climbers and a colleague who stayed at the base camp. The re-telling of the sequence of events is so real that you almost feel that you are there with them ....... all I can say is that I'm really glad I wasn't.
What really struck me was the emotive aspect of the story - without giving too much away, how both climbers responded to the situations they found themselves in - in realtion to each other also.
Fantastic stuff, a triumph of human spirit and strength. Watch and be amazed!!
What really struck me was the emotive aspect of the story - without giving too much away, how both climbers responded to the situations they found themselves in - in realtion to each other also.
Fantastic stuff, a triumph of human spirit and strength. Watch and be amazed!!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Shug
Format:DVD
about the human capacity to withstand what will seem to you like some of the most unbelievable conditions, to make the hardest decision you can ever imagine, and to keep going despite everything. I watched this film without knowing anything about it's background. It is the only film I have ever watched again, and again, and I will watch and think about these two guys - Joe and Simon, whenever I doubt whether what I'm doing is worth the candle or not. Watch this film. It is beautiful and awesome.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By J. Miller
Format:DVD
In an age when the term "extreme" is applied to pastimes that carry negligible risks, it is worth being reminded occasionally what extremes really are: Touching the Void is an effective reminder.
The two climbers between them face everything that it takes to break the human spirit: the choice of abandoning a friend to certain death or facing one's own; crawling in agony for miles over rocks and ice; realizing that, whatever happens, help won't come; and, driven by determination not to go down without a fight, they survive to bring us the story of how they did it.
The story alone would make anything worth sitting through, but is complemented here by a gripping narrative, superb reconstructions, and the stunning cinematography. Buy it and get yourself a screen big enough to do it justice.
The two climbers between them face everything that it takes to break the human spirit: the choice of abandoning a friend to certain death or facing one's own; crawling in agony for miles over rocks and ice; realizing that, whatever happens, help won't come; and, driven by determination not to go down without a fight, they survive to bring us the story of how they did it.
The story alone would make anything worth sitting through, but is complemented here by a gripping narrative, superb reconstructions, and the stunning cinematography. Buy it and get yourself a screen big enough to do it justice.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By Gybebunny
Format:DVD
I'm not a climber, but I was thoroughly gripped by this film from beginning to end. I found it very weird that Joe Simpson was narrating, and yet at each stage of the film I kept thinking he couldn't possibly have survived.
Not only uplifting and inspiring, but also a refreshingly long, long way from Hollywood.
Not only uplifting and inspiring, but also a refreshingly long, long way from Hollywood.
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Like many armchair mountaineers I couldn't wait to watch this film.
I had read Touching the Void some years ago and was inspired by the courage of the protagonists and impressed with the quality of the writing.
Would the film be worthy of the book?
Yes definitely.
The involvement of Simpson et al ensures that the story is truthfully and grippingly told. The film realistically conveys the desperation and courage of the mountaineers. And the camera work is superb - the panning shots of the mountains are beautiful, and for me, allow a glimpse into the appeal of undertaking life risking adventure at altitude.
Touching the Void really does transport the viewer to a place and situation they previously could only imagine.
This is a wonderful piece of film.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic film
Must read the book first ,but this is a great follow up!! the book has you on an emotional ride and is fantastically written!! would recommend both
Published 17 days ago by K. James
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring
I bought this after an appearance by Joe Simpson at our annual work conference.
His story is amazing and this film shows you the emotion of the journey he and his fellow... Read more
His story is amazing and this film shows you the emotion of the journey he and his fellow... Read more
Published 23 days ago by Rich, Hull
1.0 out of 5 stars
did not see it
did not see it as it does not work on my dvd..not sute why i thouht it was a regional 2 dvd?
Published 26 days ago by Mr Brando
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great movie
This is a great story and movie all my friends also enjoyed watching it .
So good i watched it twice
So good i watched it twice
Published 1 month ago by degu
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping!
If you're into mountains you've probably seen this or at least heard the story, if not watch it, true life doesn't get more gripping!
Published 1 month ago by Rippin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Story of the will to survive
Fantastic docu/film about survival in the harshest of environments. The contrast between interviews with Joe and Simon and the live action sceness which act out what they are... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Paul Quinn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Edge of seat stuff
Even though this is a documentary and the story is being told by the people involved, I still found myself on the edge of my seat wondering if he would survive!
Published 1 month ago by E.M.H
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great film
I didn't expect very much from this film before I watched it. Sort of thing you expect to see on TV and almost instantly forget. I was wrong! This is an amazing piece of work. Read more
Published 1 month ago by JonRev
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ace
I met Joe at a recent conference - His talk was compelling - The result was the purchase of the DVD - and I was not disappointed. A great view - and of course a TRUE story !!! Read more
Published 2 months ago by MR S J KEMP
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exellent Film
Very well reanacted film of a true story,i found it to be a film which kepted you glued to the screen all the way through, with a happy ending for once. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Graham Little
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