Touching the Void (2003)

Directed by: Kevin MacDonald | 106 minutes | adventure, drama, documentary, sports | Actors: Nicholas Aaron, Brendan Mackay | Starring: Joe Simpson, Simon Yates, Richard Hawking

Touching the Void is based on Joe Simpson’s book of the same name. Over the edge is the Dutch version of the book. The book has become an international bestseller. Oscar winner Kevin MacDonald (‘One Day in September’ (1999)), grandson of the famous producer Emeric Pressburger, made a breathtaking dramatized documentary about it. ‘Touching the Void’ won the Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film at the 2004 BAFTAs, while competing with higher budget films like ‘Cold Mountain’ (2003) and ‘Love Actually’ (2003).

This documentary combines interviews with Simpson, Yates and also friend Richard Hawking with re-enacted scenes to tell the wondrous story of the grueling survival journey. Joe Simpson and Simon Yates were only twenty-five and twenty-one years old respectively at the time of the ascent. It took two years to make this film and that is apparent from the beautiful aerial shots of the mountains and the landscape. The footage was partially shot where the drama actually took place. These beautiful images, shoulder shots, interviews and the voice-overs make the story realistic and gripping, even for people for whom mountain climbing is not a hobby. Besides his hobbies, writing and mountaineering, Joe Simpson has discovered a new talent, namely modeling for a travel clothing brand.

‘Touching the Void’ may seem boring at first. Movies about mountaineering, difficult decisions and setbacks are not exactly original. However, this movie is definitely worth watching. As a viewer, one really sympathizes with the struggles and setbacks that Simon and especially Joe have to endure. Richard Hawking is the man who, meanwhile, keeps an eye on things in the base camp and eagerly awaits the return of the mountaineers. Bad weather conditions, dehydration, frost burns, pain, despair, minimal chances of survival, everything in this film is portrayed in a very realistic way, resulting in an exciting and captivating film.