In this article, we highlight the 10 best hiking movies about mountain climbing, trekking and adventure, which tell how man faces challenges with himself and with nature.
A small curiosity to which we would like to draw your attention is that most of these films are drawn from true stories, making us reflect on human nature that leads us to escape the canons imposed by modern society, in search of the most authentic identity of man that can only correspond to the reconciliation with nature. At the same time, this desire could lead us to push ourselves too far beyond our limits, sometimes becoming too risky, thus putting our lives at risk.
What are the 10 best hiking movies to watch in 2023 ?
1- FREE SOLO
Free Solo is one of the best hiking movies for us ! 975 meters of pure, mostly vertical granite rock. The steep face of El Capitan is the eye catcher in California's Yosemite Valley, the mecca of free climbers. At the center of the free-climbing universe, it's always directly a matter of life and death. "It reassures me that even Spock has nerves," co-director Jimmy Chin says of his protagonist Alex Honnold at one point in his film, "Free Solo." The Most Successful Free Climber of All Time has just abandoned a record attempt to climb the legendary face of El Capitan without belay or aid. Free Solo is the name given to this technique, which claims several lives almost every single year.
In the opening scene of "Star Trek V: At the Edge of the Universe," the movie's Mr. Spock saves his friend Captain Kirk's life with the help of his rocket boots after falling while free solo climbing El Capitan. In reality, the free-climbing professionals cannot rely on this help, which is why no one before Honnold has dared to conquer this wall in this breakneck manner. Professional mountaineer Chin accompanies the exceptional athlete together with filmmaker Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi ("Incorruptible") and not only documents Honnold's boldest and most ambitious project to date, but also delivers a gripping character drama about the human being Alex Honnold in addition to sensational climbing and nature images. Winner of an Oscar for best documentary, "Free Solo" is more nerve-wracking than a thriller could ever be - even if the outcome is known.
The documentary by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, who are themselves enthusiastic climbers, is laid out like an ordinary hero's tale. Alex Honnold is introduced, we observe him during his preparations, parents, friends, the girlfriend have their say, there are setbacks, but, of course, they are overcome again. What makes "FREE SOLO" much more memorable than comparable mountaineering documentaries, however, is the multitude of problems that come up here as if in passing. For example, it's not just about conquering the rock face - although that alone would have made a fascinating documentary: in many trials climbs, Alex explores his route with a rope, noting and feeling every ledge and finally practicing the passage like a meticulously choreographed dance. But more than these athletic-technical moments, the filmmakers focus on the question of Alex as a person: how determined, how stubborn, how single-minded, and thus also: how reckless must someone be who risks his life in this way? Without declaring their climbing colleague and friend a "case”, the filmmakers succeed in creating a portrait of an extraordinary personality who by no means has only pleasant sides. And they also openly address their own dilemma: How does the presence of the cameras affect Alex's climbing? Do they drive him to take more risks? If something happens on camera, will they keep filming him? "I don't want to see him die," says Jimmy Chin, but he doesn't want to look away either.
2- INTO THE WILD
Into the Wild is one of the best adventure documentaries for us ! A film that needs no introduction, an international success and one of the best tests behind the camera of Sean Penn, after the novel of the same name written by John Krakauer.
Emile Hirsch plays the young protagonist Christopher McCandless, the son of rich American parents from the middle class who, after two years of university, decides to change his life completely.
He decides to escape social conventions and all those material possessions that, according to him, are only a cause of unhappiness and distraction from the true meaning of life.
He sells everything, donates the proceeds to charity and begins his journey to one of the wildest and most pristine lands on the planet: Alaska .
The protagonist leaves without giving any explanation to his parents, nobody knows his goal and his idea, only the sister receives a letter from time to time.
The film tells the story of the journey from Massachusetts to Alaska, far from the rhythms and dictates of modern life, a bumpy journey full of challenges and obstacles that, however, never distract the boy from his goal.
Nature is said to be a strict mother and Christopher experiences this on his skin, day after day, until she reaches her destination.
The locations of this film have entered the common imagination, becoming destinations for many travelers eager to retrace, at least in part, Christopher's exploits.
A must-see film, which carries a strong message and makes us understand the respect we owe to Nature.
3- WILD
Reese Witherspoon stars as Cheryl Strayed, a girl with a difficult and self-destructive past, who tries to put a stop to the story of her life by trying to get back on her feet and restore order inside and outside herself.
The death of her mother makes her enter a deep depression, makes her hit rock bottom, to the point of risking her own life, finding a way out is the only possible solution to ease all this suffering.
The film is based on the novel "Wild, a crazy story of adventure and rebirth".
Cheryl decides to test herself with an experience so far out of her world, a physical and mental test, tackling the Pacific Crest Trail with almost no preparation or training.
There will be many difficulties during the journey, difficult obstacles to overcome but, fortunately for her, there are many people who will help her.
Every step of her journey is a step in her mind, a constant challenge against her pains and fears.
The success of this film made the Pacific Crest Trail famous to the point that the authorities had to regulate access with special permits, to avoid overcrowding.
4- THE WAY
The protagonist of this intense film is Martin Sheen, who plays Dr. Thomas Avery, an American dentist close to retirement, who spends his days between work and the golf club.
His routine is suddenly interrupted by a call from France, it's the police who bring him terrible news about his son.
The man leaves for Europe, and as soon as he arrives, the police welcome him to recognize the body of his son, who died accidentally on the way.
The father decides to have the body cremated and take it to America, but during a sleepless night, he has an idea: he wants to do what he has never done before, a trip with his son.
He decides to go to Santiago de Compostela, concluding the journey that his son had to interrupt.
The itinerary is the occasion of encounters and contaminations, on the way he meets people who will prove to be precious travel companions, each on the road for a different reason.
Along the way, Thomas will understand many things about himself and his son, will be able to accept what has happened and overcome many prejudices he has been living with for a long time.
This is without a doubt one of the films that best captures the spirit of slow travel, the true essence of travel to know ourselves and the world around us.
5- EVEREST
Competition is not necessary to climb Mount Everest. The mountain offers enough incentive and problems. By its own rules and weather conditions, it devours every year again and again some people. In the meantime, more than 200 corpses lie there, because it is impossible to recover them. This fact is material enough to turn it into an American-Icelandic feature film. It revolves around the events of 1996, during the ascent in May, and resembles a biographical adventure film.
Baltasar Kormákur directed the 120-minute adventure film. The screenplay was written by William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy. All shooting was scheduled for six weeks in the Italian Alps and a month in Iceland, after which work continued for another month in Nepal. This involved Nicky Kentish Barnes, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, Brian Oliver, Baltasar Kormákur and Tyler Thompson as the lead crew, and resulted in a film with an age rating of 12. Partly local mountain guides supported the work on the King's Peak, with cinematographer Salvatore Totino. It wasn't until after production had begun that U.S. film production companies Cross Creek Pictures and Walden Media stepped in on November 12, 2013, and took over large parts of the financing.
Cast: One of the main characters is Jason Clarke, who plays Rob Hall, the expedition leader of the New Zealand team. Next is Josh Brolin as Beck Weathers, the Texas pathologist, and Jake Gyllenhaal as Scott Fischer. Both climbed in the Santa Monica Mountains in early January 2014 to prepare for the role. Other major characters include John Hawkes as Doug Hansen, the mailman from Renton. Robin Wright brings Peach Weathers to the big screen. Michael Kelly interprets Jon Krakauer, the journalist, on assignment for Outside travel magazine. Sam Worthington watch as Guy Cotter. Keira Knightley contributes as Jan Arnold and Emily Watson as Helen Wilton. In other roles follow: Thomas M. Wright, Martin Henderson, Naoko Mori and Mark Derwin.
The adventure film "Everest" is a gripping drama and is based on a true incident. From the very beginning, Rob Hall's voice rings out, "Mount Everest is without a doubt the most dangerous place on earth." In reality, the team consists of ambitious amateur mountaineers. Director Baltasar Kormákur succeeds well in solving the primal problem, because, as a rule, actors can't climb and mountaineers can't act. The characters seem superficial due to the number of contributors, but emotions also find their way in through the integrated wives. All the actions of the Hollywood stars seem natural and the scenes on Mount Everest radiate the elemental forces. "Everest" is a classic disaster movie: before the end, the outcome is known, and yet the viewer still feverishly sympathizes with the characters.
6- THE LAST TRAPPER
"It is encounters with people that make life worth living," French writer Guy de Maupassant once said.
When director Nicolas Vanier met Noman Winther, one of the last trappers, on a trip through Canada, this chance meeting was to shape all his future endeavors. Vanier, known for adventurous expeditions far from civilization and the resulting adventure reports, photo books, novels and documentaries, found in Norman Winther exactly what he himself loved: a passion for the Great North, the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The trapper embodied the qualities Vanier would give a fictional hero. The result was The Last Trapper the first feature film by the director, who was born in Senegal in 1962.
Norman Winther is one of the last hunters to maintain a relationship with Nature, in this case the majestic Yukon Rockies, based on a deep knowledge of the environment and a great respect for natural balance. Accompanied by his wife Nebaska, a Nahanni Indian, and his faithful sled dogs, Norman takes us on a journey of discovery through a world that follows the rhythm of the seasons; immersed in scenarios of unimaginable beauty, he enthralls us with the story of an adventurous life, whose strength and courage are a reflection of sublime nature.
7- NORTH FACE
In the summer of 1936, Toni Kurz and Andi Hinterstoisser, two Bavarian soldiers, decide to climb the North Face of the Eiger in the purest tradition of German mountaineering. Considered one of the most difficult climbs in the Alps, this legendary and tragic ascent is followed by several journalists, including Toni's partner, who works for a German magazine. After all, Goebbels did not hesitate to turn the two climbers into heroes of the Third Reich, despite the fact that neither of them was a member of the National Socialist Party.
Rockfalls, avalanches, a crumbling wall and sudden, unpredictable weather changes had so far prevented an ascent and claimed several lives. It was not until 1938 that the Germans Anderl Heckmair and Ludwig Vörg and the Austrians Heinrich Harrer (hero of "Seven Days in Tibet") and Fritz Kasparek succeeded in making the first ascent. Munich director Philipp Stölzl, however, is less interested in the heroic victory than in the existential struggle. That's why "North Face" is not about the first successful ascent, but takes place two years earlier: four climbers are surprised by a snowstorm and are stuck in the wall. The result is a visually stunning, exciting alpine drama that also attempts to explore the connections between mountaineering and National Socialism, but unfortunately takes the easy way out on this second level.
8- TRACKS
Writer Robyn Davidson undertakes an epic journey from Alice Spring across the Australian desert to the Indian Ocean.
Traveling 2,700 kilometers accompanied by her dog and four camels, the woman faced wild and unexplored areas. An adventure that showed her ability to face solitude and the most extreme conditions.
During her journey, she met Rick Smolan, a well-known New York and National Geographic photographer who documented her journey.
Robyn is determined to travel alone and does not want any other travel companion, so at first the presence of the photographer is not appreciated at all, but little by little the relationship between the two softens, thanks also to the hardships they are confronted with during the journey, until it becomes a true friendship.
9- BACKCOUNTRY
Les protagonistes sont Jenn (Missy Peregrym) et Alex (Jeff Roop) prêts à affronter la nature sauvage du nord vierge de l'Ontario. Backcountry est un film qui plonge le spectateur dans le « désert » canadien dans lequel le temps est complètement absorbé par l'immensité naturelle, dans le but de faire percevoir la dimension sensorielle du voyage.
C'est un film qui se transforme, en partant d'une approche quasi documentaire pour augmenter progressivement la tension au fur et à mesure que nous nous immergeons dans la nature, qui montre peu à peu ses côtés les plus durs et les plus impitoyables.
À un moment donné, les protagonistes perdent le chemin et toute référence spatiale et se retrouvent à errer dans les bois. C'est alors que commence une recherche continue de points de repère, la solution qui s'approche puis se révèle comme une illusion dans un crescendo de tension.
Ce n'est certainement pas un film relaxant, mais c'est un film qui fait comprendre au spectateur que la nature doit être respectée, qu'elle a ses propres rythmes et règles, et qu'il ne pardonne pas l'arrogance de ceux qui prétendent la dominer ou, pire encore, elle vit comme si elle était son domaine.
La dernière partie du film se concentre sur la lutte de Jenn pour sa survie, fuyant un animal qui deviendra de plus en plus distant et invisible, laissant place une fois de plus à la puissante présence amorale de la nature.
10- UNE PROMENADE DANS LES BOIS
Le protagoniste Bill Bryson est un écrivain et journaliste qui a du mal à accepter le passage des années. Il ne veut pas que toute sa vie soit liée uniquement aux souvenirs des années passées. Il décide donc de revivre des expériences qui peuvent lui donner des émotions.
Il décide de se lancer sur l'un des sentiers de randonnée les plus célèbres du monde, le sentier des Appalaches, contre l'avis de sa femme qui l'oblige à partir avec un compagnon de voyage.
Mais qui peut le suivre dans cet impossible voyage ? Seul son ami Stephen Katz. Une expérience qui les mettra à rude épreuve : entre rencontres passionnantes, animaux sauvages et dangers mortels. L'histoire est basée sur un conte humoristique de Bill Bryson lui-même (le protagoniste joué par Robert Redford), dans lequel il raconte son voyage avec son ami Stephen.
Ce film est basé sur l'interprétation du toujours excellent Robert Redford, un peu décevant les attentes en termes de décors et de décors.
Un film qui devrait avoir pour fil conducteur la narration dans la nature où prévalent des scènes d'intérieurs ou d'extérieurs reconstituées en studio sans trop de subtilités.
Un film ironique et amusant, basé sur le talent des acteurs, nous voulions le mettre sur cette liste précisément pour son approche ironique et légère de l'histoire du voyage dans la nature, mais nous l'avons inclus comme dernier de la liste.
Ne manquez pas de regarder ces films de randonnée !
Il semble y avoir un point commun dans bon nombre de ces histoires. La recherche d'un sens à la vie, souvent après une tragédie ou une période particulièrement difficile.
Des histoires de personnes qui abordent le voyage à pied comme une expérience permettant de mieux se connaître, de guérir de la solitude et de la fatigue.
Les besoins narratifs, la nécessité de développer une histoire articulée dans les différents actes, amènent souvent les protagonistes à parcourir de longues distances qui prennent des semaines ou des mois, temps dont peu disposent.
Cependant, de nombreux films parviennent à transmettre au spectateur l'esprit et la philosophie de ce type de voyage, qui peut également être vécu en quelques jours de marche.
Se déplacer à pied, traverser la nature et les paysages à un rythme lent et prudent, rend ce type de trajet si efficace pour se retrouver.
Marcher aide à ralentir les pensées, à les mettre en ordre, cela nous donne le temps de réfléchir, mais il ne faut jamais improviser et relever des défis qui dépassent nos moyens, comme beaucoup d'entre eux films de randonnée enseigne-nous.
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