Touching the Void

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In Theaters: January 23, 2004 (limited)

R | 1h 46m | Documentary

In Peru in 1985, two British mountain climbers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, set out to conquer the summit of Siula Grande. They reached their goal, but on the way down, Joe fell and broke several bones in his leg. Simon lowered Joe down the mountain with rope bit by bit, but a mistake in judgement found Joe hanging over a crevice.

Unable to haul Joe back up, and knowing they would both fall to their deaths if they stayed as they were, Simon cut the rope. Miraculously, Joe survived the fall by landing on a ledge and crawling down the rest of the mountain to their base camp. Simon, who was sure his decision had killed his friend, also headed for the base camp.

This film contains re-enactments of the events interspersed with commentary by the two mountain climbers.