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Touching the Void 20-Apr-2004 At 9:22:49 PM vwills

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I managed to catch Touching the Void while in Colorado last week. It was snowing too much to do the climbing I wanted so the movie filled in an evening between skiing.
If it gets out here it is a MUST SEE.
Usually if you read a book ahead of the movie, the movie will disappoint. Not so in this instance. The modern day Joe and Simon, and their camp keeper whose name I've forgotten, recollect the epic that was Siula Grande. This narration is cut by reenactments of key events, recreated with great attention to climbing detail, from knots to gear of the time. Marvel at the heavy straight shaft ice tools and the sticht plate, the Berghaus packs and gaiters and "ancient" ice screws. Ice plasters the camera, faces weather realistically and painfully and the snapped femur will have you wincing.
The cold, fatigue, thirst and mental anguish come through with some great acting by the stand-ins, but also through the narration despite the passage of time. Even with the knowledge that Joe survives his ordeal, suspense is created and maintained.
The viewer is free to assess motivation and personality and ultimately is left wondering what they would have done if they were Simon, and whether they would have survived if they were Joe.
The best climbing movie ever.