‘The Alpinist’ – Review
What is it to scale the world’s greatest peaks? What is it to risk everything to reach high above the clouds? What is it to test yourself to the very limits to become one with nature itself? These are the questions posed in The Alpinist, a stunning documentary that examines the life and exploits of Marc-André Leclerc, a literal phenom climber, who took the sport to new rights and found the very edge by doing so.
Marc-André Leclerc climbs alone, far from the limelight. On remote alpine faces, the free-spirited 23-year-old Canadian makes some of the boldest solo ascents in history. Yet, he draws scant attention. With no cameras, no rope, and no margin for error, Leclerc’s approach is the essence of solo adventure.
Shot with an eye to documentary excellence by directors Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen, The Alpinist is a daunting, nerve-racking, but completely free and honest portrait of one man’s pursuit of the earth’s edge. And it makes for an utterly incredible watch. Following in the spirit of documentaries such as the Academy Award-winning Free Solo and The Dawn Wall, The Alpinist, focuses on the life and times of Marc-André Leclerc, a 23-year old Canadian phenom in the climbing world who took the idea of free soloing to new heights when he turned from rock face granite to concentrate on scaling sheer ice walls.
From the beginning, Mortimer and Rosen don’t paint out Leclerc as some mad daredevil, but instead rather as a sincere and passionate person. He’s a man called to climb these walls out of his own connection to nature, rather than any desire to capture fame or attention. Filled with enthusiasm and passion, along with slightly nervous energy with newfound fame, The Alpinist follows Leclerc as he travels the world searching for new peaks to scale. And the directors put you right into the action and the danger of his exploration.
It’s definitely a plus if you have nerves of steel when watching The Alpinist as this film places you in the path of direct danger. And these are harrowing moments to witness. Leclerc is routinely just hanging off the edge of an ice axe with nothing but a sheer drop beneath him. It’s him, a lone figure, dangling high above nothing but existence below and one wrong move is sure to lead to death. It’s raw, harrowing and incredibly adrenaline charging. His single-mindedness in just existing in that one moment is awe-inspiring to witness. And his triumphs, while private, are a miraculous feat.
Through The Alpinist, Leclerc documents his pursuit of the world’s highest peak and his calling is one of the pure rush, and an almost zen-like pursuit of the unconquerable. For him, it is not about the pursuit of fame or glory. The action and reward is in the doing of it. But just as Icarus flew too close to the sun, so does Leclerc push to the edge further and further with each pursuit. And the film’s third act takes a socking and unexpected twist.
The Alpinist is a raw and honest look at those explorers who seek to push the boundaries of our earth. It’s a portrait of a man who explored his passions to the fullest and with such integrity and sincerity that you come to fully admire him for it. It’s also an adrenaline charging rush. And you’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole way through.
Image: MadMan Films
