It wouldn’t have killed the producers to explain some of the jargon, come on.
What it's about
Chronicles Sasha DiGiulian’s rise to the top, from child prodigy to professional rock climber with more than a couple of track records under her belt.
The take
There’s no doubt that pro climber Sasha DiGiulian is a fiercely brave and talented woman. And between her early entry into the sport and multiple first female ascents, her journey warrants an equally impressive film. Unfortunately, Here To Climb isn’t that film. It fails to capture DiGiulian’s spark and instead shows us a canned version of the athlete, one who may look appealing in inspirational clips and sponsored commercials, but here looks too guarded and rehearsed to seem authentic. The directors also don’t seem keen on appealing on a non-climbing audience since it doesn’t care to explain much of the jargon used, nor does it take its time to contextualize DiGiulian’s sport and success. The rare time it looks back, like when it introduced Lynn Hill and the major impact she had on rock climbing, is when it actually shines.
What stands out
The cameraperson following DiGiulian’s climbs deserves way more props!
Comments
Add a comment
Your name
Your comment
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
More like this in
Hail Satan? (2019)
Forget everything you think you know about the Satanic Temple
8.0
The Edge of Democracy (2019)
Mixing personal history with hardcore journalism, this is the story of Brazil's fragile democracy.
9.0
Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020)
A darkly hilarious portrait of the inevitability of death
7.9
Honeyland (2019)
A cinematic achievement in the portrayal of the last wild beekeeper in Europe
9.3
Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond – Featuring a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of Tony Clifton (2017)
Watch Jim Carrey take method acting to the extreme as he transforms into his idol Andy Kaufmann.
9.2
American Animals (2018)
8.0
The Social Dilemma (2020)
How social media algorithms harm society, as explained by their inventors
8.0
Tell Me Who I Am (2019)
A devastating, unlikely story
8.2
Close-Up (1990)
An ingenious docufiction classic and a passionate examination of storytelling and cinema
9.0
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (2024)
A gamer with disability crafts a life and community in online roleplay in this unconventional, moving documentary