I watched "THE ALPINIST" (no spoilers)

*Images quoted are from the pamphlet

This movie has been getting a lot of praise recently through word of mouth and on mountain-related Twitter, so I happened to be in the right position to go and see it

This unconventional documentary follows Marc-André Leclerc, a Canadian mountaineer who was virtually unknown to the public until his time undertaking what is arguably the most dangerous and difficult challenge of modern times: Solo Alpinism

The film was produced by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen of Sender Films, a trusted duo who have previously documented numerous big climbers, including Wooley Steck and Alex Honnold. For me, the film that made the biggest impression was "Valley Uprising," which chronicles the history of a group of young people who, influenced by 1970s hippie culture, drifted to Yosemite, becoming known as "The Stonemasters," and went on to create the culture of free climbing. One reason for this is that their meticulous research allowed me to understand the origins of the North American outdoor culture that influenced me. But what was most striking was how, despite its educational theme of unraveling history, the brisk editing and sophisticated music combined with the aged footage to create a film that remains both delightful and inspiring even today. It was heartwarming to see so many climbing legends, now elderly, vividly recounting their past. The film is currently unreleased, but for some reason, you can watch it here. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it.

As this is the latest film from these two, I headed to the cinema on opening day expecting a light-hearted and cheerful film

First and foremost, Marc-Andre's climbing scenes are as thrilling and powerful as you'd expect, not just nail-biting. After group alpine climbing in "MERU" and free solo climbing in "Free Solo," this film offers the ultimate dangerous trio of climbing never before seen: free solo alpine climbing. In particular, the sight of him tackling mixed rock and snow climbing (on-sight, no less) without a safety rope, and even in winter (probably) without gloves, using only his bare hands and two axes, is a sight that is hard to bear, especially for those who have climbed mountains in winter. This alone is definitely worth seeing in the theater

But those spectacular images aren't the core of this documentary. It was a pleasant surprise. This isn't the heroic tale of a genius climber who overcame obstacles through sheer effort and sheer willpower to achieve unprecedented feats, but rather the story of a simple, solitary artist who arrived in the mountains out of sheer necessity, seeking a place where he could be himself. Despite setting records beyond the imagination of ordinary people, Marc-André says that for him, mountaineering isn't about pushing the limits. So what? With a somewhat lonely, yet infinitely gentle and kind smile, he casually replies, "It's more entertainment, a fun adventure." He also adds, "For me, the best mountaineering is climbing alone and with nothing, which is why I chose this style." As an "ordinary person" whose fear ultimately outweighs the allure of even slightly difficult routes, I couldn't empathize or sympathize with him at all. Yet, for some reason, his simple yet powerful words are intensely captivating

As we grow, we learn that we must somehow come to terms with our own limitations and with society in order to survive. If mountains and nature can simplify a life that has become so complex and difficult to understand, then perhaps Marc-André knows this better than anyone and lives by accepting it as an existential issue. While it may be impossible to imitate on the surface, his pure and unclouded way of life shines brighter than anything else, illuminating us before our very eyes. This film gave me such pleasant stimulation. It seems to inspire me to continue my adventures for a little longer

This is a rare opportunity to watch a high-quality mountain documentary on the big screen. If you're interested, be sure to head to the cinema