Touching the Void DVD Review:

May 1985, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates set out to climb the west face of the Siula Grande Mountain in the Peruvian Andes. The pair where experienced Alpine climbers but this was the first time they had adventured away from the European range and they discovered that climbing in the Andes was a totally different and more difficult experience. After a successful ascent, they realised that the decent would be a lot more arduous. Their conclusions were confirmed when Joe fell and shattered his knee, now Simon had to effectively lower his friend down the mountain. Disaster struck when Joe fell off an overhang of snow and Simon was left supporting the full weight of his friend. Simon had two choices, be pulled over the side and die with his friend or cut the rope.

Oscar winning director Kevin McDonald blurs the line between documentary and acted cinema with a story of human endurance that should inspire anyone.

Inventively, the director mixes a dramatic reconstruction of the actual events with footage and narration from the two men the story is based upon. As Simon Yates and Joe Simpson describe their ordeal to camera, we are shown the events unfolding before our eyes with two actors playing the climbers aged twenty-five. This works superbly, showcasing all the drama of the event and then cutting back to the reaction on one of the guy’s faces as he recounts those fateful five days.

The dramatic recreation is outstanding. The cinematography truly captures the splendour and sheer danger of the Siula Grande Mountain. One sweeping camera moment can show the beauty of an ice formation and then take you into the depths of what looks like a bottomless crevasse, with Joe perched tentatively on the edge of an overhang. You really do feel the desperation of the situation as the night draws in and the darkness starts to consume the icy cave. Brendan McKay and Nicolas Aaron do an excellent job in recreating what it must have been like to be in that terrible situation.

It is Joe Simpson and Simon Yates’s narration and moments to camera that truly get across what the two went through during that life changing experience. Both them tell their side of the story and the film doesn’t point the blame at either of them individually but does hammer home the importance of research and preparation before starting any climb. It could have been so easy for the filmmakers to paint Simon as the villain of the piece, as many of the climbing community have but through the dramatic recreation and Simon having the chance to tell his side of the story, you realise that he had no choice in what he did. McDonald lets them tell you what happening in their own words and the feelings that went along with those terrifying moments.

In mixing the two style of filmmaking, Kevin McDonald has proved again what an inventive and creative director he is. By using Joe Simpson’s book as inspiration, getting the two men to relive their ordeal for the camera and adding in the dramatic recreation, this is a piece of unique cinema. The story of human endurance under extreme, life-threatening danger is inspiring. It shows that the will to survive can be a very powerful driving force and Joe Simpson and Simon Yates’s story is proof of this.

Star Rating = * * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer to DVD is extremely good. The picture quality is superb, capturing the awe-inspiring scenery of the Peruvian Andes and the snow and glaciers that cover the Siula Grande Mountain. The sound quality is also first rate as the noise of the wind and snow circle around the room encapsulating you in the extreme weather of the region.

BONUS FEATURES

Touching the Void – Return to Siula Grande (25.21 mins)

A documentary about the filming of the documentary. Director Kevin McDonald takes Joe Simpson and Simon Yates back to Peru for the first time since 1985. Here we follow the film crew to Siula Grande to film the scenery and distance shots for the movie (the close up climbing work would be recorded by actors in the Alps). Joe Simpson records his own video diary about how he feels about going back to the place where he almost lost his life. This gives a fascinating insight into the saviour’s state of mind as Joe’s feelings towards the mountain and the film itself start to get the better of him and the bad memories start to consume him. It is also interesting to watch Simon, as he appears completely nonchalant about the whole situation but then proceeds to have nothing to do with the production. This is fantastic accompaniment to Kevin McDonald’s main feature and as the man himself directs it, it is like getting two documentaries for the price of one.

What Happened Next (9.43 mins)

The film continues and reveals what happened after Simon and Richard found Joe. We find out how they got back to civilisation, the make shift painkillers they had to use and how the hospital in Lima wouldn’t accept Joe’s travel insurance. We also discover what Joe’s parents thought of the situation and how long it actually took for him to recover. This extension answers all of the questions you might have had after watching the movie.

Trailer (1.44 mins)

Your chance to watch the full theatrical trailer for the movie.

OVERALL

A superb film gets a great transfer onto DVD. The Return to Siula Grande documentary and the What Happened Next extension of the movie really add value to the release. The DVD would have benefited from a commentary track from director Kevin McDonald but you do get a continuous number of reflections from Simon Yates and Joe Simpson as part of the structure of the movie anyway. This is a must rent or buy as it is one of the most fascinating tales of human endurance you will ever see.

DVD Star Rating = * * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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