The Dawn Wall
Two elite climbers confront a seemingly impossible Yosemite ascent while testing the limits of perseverance, obsession, and friendship.
Overview
A breathtaking journey of human endurance and friendship unfolds on the world's most challenging rock face.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- tense
- inspirational
- visceral
- adventure movie night
- inspirational viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the documentary as a universally acclaimed, emotionally compelling account of extreme climbing elevated by exceptional cinematography and human stakes.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson's prolonged attempt forces them to balance individual achievement against loyalty to one another.
The Dawn Wall's 3,000-foot granite face is filmed through expansive cliff views and exposed climbing footage.
Caldwell's hostage ordeal, lost index finger, and collapsed marriage inform his determination to return stronger.
The 2015 climb is contextualized through flashbacks covering Caldwell's earlier captivity, injury, relationships, and years of preparation.
Films like The Dawn Wall, and why
Free Solo
high-stakes mountaineering documentary built around physical endurance, friendship, and spectacular natural cinematography
Meru
intimate adventure documentary about extreme risk, obsessive preparation, and human resilience in forbidding landscapes
The Alpinist
uplifting true-story sports documentary focused on perseverance, adversity, and an extraordinary physical challenge
Movie Details
- Directors
- Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer
- Release Date
- 2017-11-01
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 8.0 / 10 (370)
Cast
- Tommy Caldwell
- John Branch
- Kevin Jorgeson
- Mike Caldwell
- Terry Caldwell
- Kelly Cordes
Common questions
- What is The Dawn Wall about?
- Two elite climbers confront a seemingly impossible Yosemite ascent while testing the limits of perseverance, obsession, and friendship.
- What is The Dawn Wall like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Dawn Wall as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Dawn Wall violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Dawn Wall as mild.
- What did critics think of The Dawn Wall?
- Critics broadly regard the documentary as a universally acclaimed, emotionally compelling account of extreme climbing elevated by exceptional cinematography and human stakes.
- Which films are like The Dawn Wall?
- Films with a similar feel include Free Solo, Meru, and The Alpinist.
- How long is The Dawn Wall?
- The Dawn Wall runs 101 minutes.
