Free Solo

film by Chin and Vasarhelyi [2018]

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July 22, 2026

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The 2018 documentary film Free Solo chronicles professional rock climber Alex Honnold's attempt to become the first person to free solo El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Free soloing is a form of rock climbing where the climber uses no ropes or safety equipment. The film, directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, captures Honnold's meticulous preparation and the harrowing ascent. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2019. The film also explores Honnold's personal life and his relationship with his then-girlfriend, Sanni McCandless.123

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Alex Honnold
Soloing El Capitan
…2018 release of the documentary Free Solo, which details Honnold’s years long meticulous process of planning and training and concludes with harrowing footage of the climb itself. Free Solo also showcases Honnold’s deadpan humor and chronicles his courtship with then-girlfriend Sanni McCandless. The film received high critical and audience acclaim…
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…2018 release of the documentary Free Solo, which details Honnold’s years long meticulous process of planning and training and concludes with harrowing footage of the climb itself. Free Solo also showcases Honnold’s deadpan humor and chronicles his courtship with then-girlfriend Sanni McCandless. The film received high critical and audience acclaim…
Read More