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Touching the Void

Play trailer Poster for Touching the Void R 2003 1h 47m Adventure Drama Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 135 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In 1985, two young climbers, Joe Simpson (Brendan Mackey) and Simon Yates (Nicholas Aaron), set out to be the first to reach the summit of the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. They succeed, and the two embark on the treacherous descent down the mountain -- only to meet with disaster when Simpson breaks his leg in a fall, leaving Yates to lower him the rest of the way with ropes. When a storm threatens both their lives, Yates must decide whether to cut the rope and risk Simpson's likely death.
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Touching the Void

Touching the Void

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Critics Consensus

Gripping even though the outcome is known.

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Critics Reviews

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Sheila Norman-Culp Associated Press 01/23/2019
In the right hands, a docudrama can deliver all the excitement, emotion and storytelling of the very best feature films -- and director Kevin Macdonald has done that with startling clarity in the mountaineering adventure Touching the Void. Go to Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/29/2010
4/5
Excruciatingly tense story of a terrible accident. Go to Full Review David Ansen Newsweek 03/26/2007
Touching the Void leaves you emotionally and physically spent, and grateful it was only a movie, not a mountain, you had to endure. Go to Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal 11/04/2010
4/4
"Void" plummets into the nucleus of instinct and consciousness - survival a near-primordial pursuit beyond bravery or weakness. It concocts no comfort about what was gained, but stares in transfixed, unforgettable awe at the horror of all that was lost. Go to Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com 08/09/2009
A+
"Touching the Void" towers above the rest of that rarest of all film genres, the docudrama. Go to Full Review Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review 08/07/2008
5/5
This harrowing, white-knuckle tale of human endurance and gut-wrenching dilemma mingles the dramatization of these events and interviews with both climbers into an unforgettable, sometimes comically deadpan nightmare. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Deborah S. @debsperlich Aug 5 I’ve seen it three times and will be watching it again tonight. The best mountain climbing survival movie ever made! See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 7 Real footage in 1 hour and 47 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In British English with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $4,600,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Zoe M 10/04/2024 Brilliantly executed movie. What a story!! See more Jason R 04/06/2024 Phenomenal, gut-wrenching film that occasionally veers into torture-porn territory. Absolutely worth a watch, but not for the faint of heart. See more Hei Det E 01/23/2024 What starts out as an "ordinary" trip between two seasoned mountain climbers evolves into an amalgamation of nature's will, human perseverance - and a survival of the elements - and the will of both human and nature's will - to explore both their highest highs and their deepest depths - as humanity face the quite awesome nature of their supposed 'undertaking'. An overwhelming tale of tragedy, misfortune, luck - more misfortune - and THEN SOME. A fantastic movie that should be in everyone's "To watch" list. Unless they've already been snowblinded by the fantastic premise this movie has to offer. An utter piece of perfection. See more Les N 10/18/2023 Was anyone else waiting for this to end....please! See more Read all reviews
Touching the Void

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Cast & Crew

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Kevin Macdonald

Director

Brendan Mackey

Joe Simpson

Nicholas Aaron

Simon Yates

Richard Hawking

Self

Joe Simpson

Self

Simon Yates

Self

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Touching the Void

Touching the Void (2003) Touching the Void (2003) Director, Kevin Macdonald on location in Alps filming TOUCHING THE VOID. The walk to the mountain Siula Grande for the filming of TOUCHING THE VOID directed by Kevin Macdonald. Nicholas Aaron (as Simon Yates) crawling across the moraine in TOUCHING THE VOID directed by Kevin Macdonald. Brendan Mackey (as Joe Simpson) lowering deeper into Crevasse in TOUCHING THE VOID directed by Kevin Macdonald. Brendan Mackey (as Joe Simpson) crawling across the moraine in TOUCHING THE VOID directed by Kevin Macdonald. (L-R) Joe Simpson (Writer/climber) and Simon Yates (climber) in Lima Peru during the filming of TOUCHING THE VOID directed by Kevin Macdonald. Joe Simpson (Writer/climber) during the filming of TOUCHING THE VOID directed by Kevin Macdonald. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1985, two young climbers, Joe Simpson (Brendan Mackey) and Simon Yates (Nicholas Aaron), set out to be the first to reach the summit of the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. They succeed, and the two embark on the treacherous descent down the mountain -- only to meet with disaster when Simpson breaks his leg in a fall, leaving Yates to lower him the rest of the way with ropes. When a storm threatens both their lives, Yates must decide whether to cut the rope and risk Simpson's likely death.
Director
Kevin Macdonald
Producer
John Smithson
Screenwriter
Joe Simpson
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
FilmFour, UK Film Council, Darlow Smithson Productions
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
Adventure, Drama, Documentary
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 5, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 15, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.6M
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Surround