It plays like a fictional feature, but this true story is documented with actual film footage, photos and news reports. The Dawn Wall, a very compelling film is a must see breath holding adventure that will never leave you hanging as you accompany the most daring rock climbers in the world, it’s an adrenaline rush! The film opens this weekend in select theaters then moves into wide distribution on September 19. Anxious scary, unimaginable feats of daring, the film takes you on their journey that includes attempting to climb the impossible vertical cliffs in Yosemite National Park, being captured by rebels in Kyrgyzstan, Asia and provides moments of complete panic.
Have you ever stood on the edge of a cliff, a tall building or a high mountain ledge and looked down? It’s a feeling that you will never forget, especially if the drop to the bottom is out of sight. Even short drops to some people can be mind-boggling, making them gasp for air even if they’re not in complete danger. To some it’s for thrills, others to see the beauty of the Earth as it lies below, but mostly to rock climbers it’s a rush. That’s the feeling you will get when you see The Dawn Wall on the big screen.
Friends Tommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgenson and Beth Rodden are unique people, they like to climb the face of huge cliffs with their bare hands. Digging their fingers into cracks that are only wide enough for a pinky and hoisting their body weight from infinitesimal footing to an even smaller one. The climb for each motion may be a few inches at a time or the length of your extended arms, but it won’t get you far unless you’re conditioned both in mind and body. What the film leads up to is a final climb by Caldwell and Jorgenson who set their sights on El Capitan in Yosemite Park, that if they make it to the top in a way that no one has claimed, will put them in the record books as the first ever.
The movie covers Caldwell and Jorgensen from when they were exposed to climbing since childhood, their teen years where they competed with other climbers for honors and then into their adult lives where they met and became friends. Nicely laid out with actual footage of the two men, their family of supporters and even marriage before they take on that try at the impossible in Yosemite National Park.
What you can take away from the film is the spectacular vistas of some of the most amazing ranges in the world, a step by step biopic of what the climbers accomplished and what it’s like to pursue the impossible. The Dawn Wall still gives me the chills thinking about the men moving along the granite cliffs thousands of feet in the air.
The Dawn Wall has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains some peril. The film received the audience award at SXSW Film Fest this year.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good documentary that captivates and exhilarates. (4 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Tommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgenson and Beth Rodden
Directed by: Josh Lowell and Peter Mortimer
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 1 hr. 41 min.
Opening Date: September 14, 2018
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
