Essay on touching the void by joe simpson 634 words bartleby. With simon yates, joe simpson, brendan mackey, nicholas aaron. Chesterfield theatres simon yates touching the void. Following a successful threeandahalfday ascent, disaster struck. Simon yates is best known for his role in the harrowing expedition to the andes documented in joe simpson s bestseller touching the void. Now available on dvd, touching the void, intercuts interviews with actual climberssurvivors joe simpson and simon yates and shots of two climbersactors reenacting their traumatic experiences on. Touching the void is a 2003 docudrama survival film directed by kevin macdonald and starring brendan mackey, nicholas aaron, and ollie ryall. Touching the void tells the true story of 20somethings joe simpson and simon yates, who set out to be the first climbers ever to climb the west face of the 21,000foot siula grande in the andes. Touching the void climber says director burned him with one. What elevates touching the void from welljudged to spinetingling is morriss exemplary staging, in cahoots with a crack creative team headed by designer ti green and movement. Yates currently lives in cumbria, uk with his wife jane yates and their two.
Analysis of touching the void by joe simpson 786 words 4 pages. Dont miss your last chance to see the critically acclaimed transfer of touching the void in the west end. Climber simon yates was portrayed as the man who cut the rope in the film touching the void. Jan 21, 2019 touching the void, the book and awardwinning documentary that detailed the harrowing expedition in 1985, made simon, a cumbriabased climber, a household name. The true story of two climbers and their perilous journey up the west face of siula grande in the peruvian andes in 1985. In appalling conditions, high on a previously unclimbed andean mountain face, he fought long and hard to save the life of his badly injured friend, joe simpson. Two mens thrilling and disastrous climb of the remote and treacherous siula grande in peru. Ahead of a stage version at perth theatre and an accompanying talk from simon he opens up. They make it to the top, but on the way down simpson falls and shatters his leg. Touching the void was adapted for the stage by david greig, artistic director at the royal lyceum theatre edinburgh. Nov 09, 2019 the exclimber and author of touching the void on the stage version of his story, his reaction to seeing free solo and what he does for fun these days. The experience of joe simpson and simon yates has been a very controversial story and was highly debated by kevin macdonald to be filmed.
This is truly an astounding account of suffering and fortitude brought about when disaster struck after joe simpson and his climbing partner, simon yates, had just reached the summit of a remote. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Simon lowered joe down the mountain face using ropes. The climber on the other end of that rope has a badly broken leg. Youre watching good morning britain now this is one of the greatest stories of desperation and survival. In 1985, he climbed the west face of siula grande in the huayhuash mountain range in the peruvian andes with joe simpson. Simpson plunged off the vertical face of an ice ledge, breaking his leg. Touching the void climber says director burned him with. These two men, joe simpson and simon yates, are incredibly brave and each one had to do the unthinkable to survive simon had to cut the rope that joe with a broken leg was dangling from he thought he was dead or risk slipping off the mountain with him to both their deaths. Mountaineer simon yates believes touching the void is a feelgood story.
Mar 14, 2016 touching the void tension extract joe simpson, mountaineer, has broken his leg when descending siula grande in the peruvian andes. Having come through, having touched the void and been touched by it, mr. Joe simpson and his climbing partner, simon yates, had just reached the top of a 21,000foot peak in the andes when disaster struck. Through the climbers stories and reenactments the viewer sees the horrors that simpson and yates had to go through. Two young climbers, joe simpson and simon yates set out to conquer amounted improve in the mid 19 eighties, but after reaching the summit and seemingly triumph, it all went terribly wrong. Controversy the experience of joe simpson and simon yates has been a very controversial story and was highly debated by. If youve ever read or watched the phenomenal touching the void, youll know about simon yates. It was 1985 and the men were young, fit, skilled climbers. The exclimber and author of touching the void on the stage version of his story, his reaction to seeing free solo and what he does for fun these days.
Two young climbers, joe simpson and simon yates set out to conquer amounted improve in the mid 19 eighties, but after reaching the summit and seemingly triumph, it. It is a rare experience to do a proper circuit in a mountain range, and anyone who joins will witness some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. Touching the void, like endurance, shows survival when one in desperate circumstances knows that there will be no help from others. While simpson and yates returned to the site for the making of the. Touching the void documents the story of two climbers, joe simpson and simon yates on a disastrous climb in the andes in 1985. The west face, remote and treacherous, had not been climbed before. Jan 29, 2017 the making of the film touching the void throws up some interesting and possibly conflicting insights into what happened following the attempted rescue and subsequent survival of a young. He was slowly being pulled off the mountain face by his injured partner, joe simpson, dangling on the rope 50. This divergence is at the center of touching the void, the film simpsons book, of course, does not tangle with this dilemma. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 48 hours to finish once started. Apr 19, 20 touching the void is one of the defining mountaineering tales of our time. Touching the void tells the story of what befell the 25yearold simpson and his climbing partner simon yates, then 21, when they set out to conquer the unclimbed west face of. Of the opportunity to give mountaineering enthusiasts insight into the reallife touching the void experience, yates comments. By intercutting narration from the climbers themselves with a nailbiting reconstruction of their remarkable adventure in the peruvian andes, the film has the best of both genres.
Touching the void book extract spy6 blog developing. Simpson survived, and recounted the story in the book touching the void, which was later adapted into a film. Touching the void attracted a readership far beyond the climbing world, drawn to its extremity and intensity. How we met joe simpson and simon yates the independent. His climbing partner, simon yates, is painstakingly lowering him, by rope, down the mountain. Touching the void by kevin macdonald recounts the dramatic and immortal story of joe simpson and simon yates and their first ascent of the west face of siula grande andes, peru.
The first half is about simon and joes climb up the mountain and how they coped with various conditions and the second half follows what happens after joes accident and how they both get off the mountain. Richard hawking, simon yates, nicholas aaron, joe simpson, brendan mackey, touching the void, kevin macdonald, john smithson. A few days later, simon staggered into base camp, exhausted and. To describe touching the void as a mountaineering documentary would be to do this breathtaking drama an injustice. A few days later, simon staggered into base camp, exhausted and frostbitten, with news that that joe was dead. It is one of the greatest stories of disaster, abandonment and survival in the mountaineering world. Joe simpson and simon yates set out to climb the west face of the siula grande in the peruvian andes. A film and a story about the greatness of friendship and life. Simon yates, one of the protagonists, reflects on its effect. Following that experience in peru, simon has been increasingly drawn to places where few others have. Touching the void the story of two mountain climbers, joe simpson and simon yates and their attempt to face siula grande, a mountain never climbed before. The plot concerns joe simpson and simon yates s disastrous and nearfatal climb of siula grande in the cordillera huayhuash in the peruvian andes, in 1985. The book charts simpson and his climbing partner simon yates s disastrous climb of siula. On the remote siula grande in peru in june 1985, mountaineer simon yates found himself in a desperately unenviable position.
Touching the void is a documentary based on a true story about two men called joe simpson and simon yates who climbed on the west face of siula grande 6,344m in the cordillera huayhuash in the peruvianandes. The mountaineer who cut the rope of his climbing partner in an act later recounted in the film touching the void is finally influencing how history views his actions. In touching the void, yates and simpson return to the siula grande for the first time to retell their story. Yates has lost friends to the pursuit of peaks, and more than 30 years on from a disastrous descent, feels any. The 52yearold says the movie was onesided, selectively edited and worst of all left cinema audiences with a powerful and enduringly wrong message right at the end of the movie. The production makes creative, engaging use of the space and props and tells the story of joe and simon in what, at this point, is a surprisingly refreshing manner. Directed by the awardwinning tom morris war horse and based on joe simpsons bestselling memoir turned baftawinning film, touching the void charts joe simpsons and simon yates struggle for survival on the perilous siula grande mountain in the peruvian andes.
Im excited to be heading back to the huayhuash region. Following that experience in peru, simon has been increasingly drawn to places where few others have trod. Touching the void is one of the defining mountaineering tales of our time. I remember reading touching the void in the late 1980s when it. The true story of one mans miraculous survival by joe simpson 48,9 ratings, 4. Yates feels let down by the director of touching the void. Details about touching the void dvd movie inspiration simon yates joe simpson a true story. Go mountain climbing in the peruvian andes with simon yates. On the descent, an accident resulted in simpson falling over a cliff while roped to yates, who was forced to cut the rope to avoid both climbers falling. The story of joe simpson and simon yates return to the mountain of siula grande for the making of the film touching the void. May 25, 2012 gcse english students studying touching the void for their exams have vented their frustrations on twitter.
Kevin macdonald on filming touching the void film the. Touching the void one of the most accomplished exploratory mountaineers of all time. Touching the void dvd movie inspiration simon yates joe. Jun 26, 2017 the story of joe simpson and simon yates return to the mountain of siula grande for the making of the film touching the void. A mountain climber must cut the rope to save himself. Simon yates and joe simpson attempted to be the first.
In 1985, two mountain climbers, joe simpson and simon yates, attempted to climb siula grande in the andes of peru. Supplied yates feels let down by the director of touching the void. After just reaching the peak, joe slipped off an ice ledge and broke his leg. Touching the void, the book and awardwinning documentary that detailed the harrowing expedition in 1985, made simon, a cumbriabased climber, a household name. An incredible account of tragedy, friendship and human endurance. Touching the void is the heartstopping account of joe simpsons terrifying adventure in the peruvian andes. In the hours that followed, darkness fell and a blizzard raged as yates tried to lower his friend to safety. The making of the film touching the void throws up some interesting and possibly conflicting insights into what happened following the attempted. Ahead of a stage version at perth theatre and an accompanying talk from simon he opens up to gayle ritchie. Touching the void climber bombarded with abuse by school. Essay on touching the void by joe simpson 634 words. In 1985, simon yates and joe simpson attempted to be the first to successfully ascent the west face of the 6,244 metre tall siula grande, located in the peruvian andes, taking an inexperienced richard hawking to stay at base camp. The first five minutes of the documentary is very effective because it draws you in. Yates are shown as elevated spirits, with a new sense of.
Simon yates going back to the void simon yates should have gone down in mountain folklore as a hero. The plot concerns joe simpson and simon yatess disastrous and nearfatal climb of siula grande in the cordillera huayhuash in the peruvian andes, in 1985. Mar 10, 2004 touching the void, by joe simpson a harrowing first person account of one mans miraculous survival best describes touching the void by joe simpson. It is based on simpsons 1988 book of the same name critically acclaimed, touching the void was. Touching the void play simon yates on good morning. The author, joe simpson, and his climbing partner, simon yates, attempted to ascend a perilous section of the peruvian andes. Touching the void play simon yates on good morning britain. Y ates has lost friends to the pursuit of peaks, and more than 30 years on from a disastrous descent, feels any. Although they had a mutual falling out, they came together for the sake of the film. Touching the void tension extract joe simpson, mountaineer, has broken his leg when descending siula grande in the peruvian andes.
The 52yearold says the movie was onesided, selectively edited and worst of all left cinema audiences with a powerful and. Near the summit, tragedy struck when joe, up over 19,000 feet, fell and hit a slope at the base of a cliff, breaking his right leg, rupturing his right knee, and shattering his right heel. Simon yates is best known for his role in the harrowing expedition to the andes documented in joe simpsons bestseller touching the void. Gcse english students studying touching the void for their exams have vented their frustrations on twitter. Nov 20, 2003 touching the void tells the story of what befell the 25yearold simpson and his climbing partner simon yates, then 21, when they set out to conquer the unclimbed west face of a notorious peak. It made simpson and yates famous, and opened their story to secondhand opinions, interpretations and moral judgements. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of touching the void by joe simpson. Touching the void, by joe simpson a harrowing first person account of one mans miraculous survival best describes touching the void by joe simpson. Touching the void dvd movie inspiration simon yates joe simpson a true story.