The following is a personal intuitive viewing experience, which may not be consistent with the facts. Let's analyze two questions.
Why did Alex risk his life to solo rock? Alex is aloof. No family loved him, no one hugged him during his childhood. No matter how great the achievement is, the mother will never praise it. He therefore buried his feelings, alienated from others, and did not know how to speak of love. In the film, when he was doing a brain scan and psychological test, when the form he filled out asked "Do you feel depressed?", he, who had answered the first few questions smoothly, suddenly stopped in front of the camera. I was wondering if he was struggling with depression at other times in his life other than rock climbing. And his deadly rock climbing, in addition to creating great historical moments and challenging the limits, is it the only way he can fight against life? Is rock climbing the only light he can rely on in life to keep him going? Many people think that he risked his own life to do this because he was rash and irrational, and even did not respect life. I thought the same thing before watching this documentary. But after reading I understood his behavior in my own way. I think he is lucky. Without climbing, he might not have found any other way out. All other seemingly comfortable and safe ways of living were dead ends for him. He is single-minded, stubborn and stubborn, unwilling to compromise with others, indifferent, and looks down on material life. He is not suitable for ordinary life in this world. Fortunately, he still has rock climbing. Climbing gave him a way to explore himself, the meaning of life. Saying that he chose rock climbing at the risk of death, in fact, he didn't have a choice at the moment. There is only one way for him. I had a strange thought in my head when I saw him hanging in the middle of the mountain at the end of the free climb. Maybe contrary to what many people think. I was thinking that this rock climbing was like a cancer operation that he had to go through. Without surgery, he might die of cancer. And now that he chooses free-hand rock climbing, at least he has a chance to survive.
Is Alex's girlfriend really unworthy of him? Saw some reviewers talking about Alex's relationship with his girlfriend. Calling Alex's girlfriend, Sanni, too bland and not a good match for her at all. But under the great adventure of achievement, Alex is a person who is apathetic and isolated from his emotions due to his childhood experiences. He sticks to his own way of life and is maverick, so he won't change his choices just because he takes care of the people around him. He is free and unfettered, and therefore will not easily compromise for anyone. Therefore, it is conceivable that once the life he chooses is in conflict with the people close to him, he can choose his own life without any hesitation. He also mentioned many times in the film that if he chooses between rock climbing and his girlfriend, he must choose rock climbing. And he also completely denied that it is an obligation to choose to prolong his life as much as possible for the people who love him around him. And Sanni is the one who looks ordinary, but she's actually the one who has been sacrificing and giving in this relationship. She has to constantly make trade-offs to cater to and take care of Alex, who always goes his own way. She might not understand that Alex was going to risk his life to solo rock, but she still put aside her endless worries and fears and supported all the decisions he made. Perhaps on a spiritual level, Sanni doesn't live as deeply as Alex. But an intimate relationship is sometimes far more complicated than a spiritual partner. Alex lacked love and was not good at expressing his emotions since he was a child; and the tolerant care and support given to him by the optimistic and positive Sanni is slowly healing his heart. I think that's fine. (But I'm also a little worried that Sanni will want to give up one day. When Alex's aura fades, will she have the strength to keep going.)
PS Googled director and photographer Jimmy Chin, does he really have no Sherpa blood (parents were born in Wenzhou and Harbin)? His profile is too much like the Sherpa, the best climber in the Himalayas.
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