THE ALPINIST
US, 2021, 93 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen.
Three years ago there was a test for audience endurance as they accompanied mountain climber, Alex Honnold, in the award-winning film, Free Solo, on his - for him ordinary but for us, edge-of seat – mountain climbing endeavouras.
He is one of the talking heads in this same-vein documentary, praising a younger and even more adventurous and enterprising climber from British Columbia, Mark-Andre Leclerc.
Climbers will find this film a must. The scenery is mountains, magnificent, from British Columbia itself to the Rockies, to Patagonia. (And, ironically with the official title given to the climbers, Alpinists, no climbing in the actual Alps!). Not only the scenery, but the up-close as well as sweeping photography is spectacular. The film is a tribute to the two directors, Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen who followed Mark Andre Leclerc and his climbing for two years. There are a lot of close-ups, even extreme close-ups, making the audience feel that we were there.
Mark Andre was the basic climber, minimal equipment, spiked shoes, ice axes, haversack, when necessary, with tent and food. There is a great deal of his climbing, illustrating his techniques, finding crevices, testing rock strength, checking ice solidity, alertness for avalanches, possibilities of danger.
When he is introduced, his 23 years of age, and already an achiever, with an emerging reputation amongst the climbers many of whom appear throughout the film, quite some testimonies.
He could have ruined his prospects with partying in his early adult years, drugs, alcohol, but getting hold of himself. He is also found a girlfriend, Brette Harrington, not just support but also a skilled climber herself, sharing so much with him.
By the end, with a lot of video footage, we feel that we have come to know Marc-Andre, have climbed the mountains, especially in Patagonia where he did not succeed the first time out he went tried again, succeeded (and some happily joyful scenes with the locals).
Which means that at the end of the film, we have come to know Marc-Andre. The ending is unexpected – we join in tributes to Marc-Andre.
