TO THE LIMIT
MANY American sports documentaries tend to fall into a predictable inspirational rut, no matter how stunning the footage. Pepe Danquart’s “To the Limit” from Germany looks great, but it’s an altogether different animal.
It follows two attempts by brothers Thomas and Alexander Huber to set a speed record for climbing the 1,000-foot vertical nose of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in California.
They aim to achieve this extremely dangerous climb up a treacherous vertical surface, which takes most climbers four to five days, in 2½ hours by using minimal equipment and taking maximum risks.
Alexander, the younger of the brothers, is a climbing superstar with nerves of steel. Thomas, who introduced his sibling to the sport, is more prone to emotional outbursts, and their relationship becomes severely strained after the first attempt ends in a near-fatal accident.
“To the Limit” also follows a second try, and it’s to the movie’s credit that we’re just as interested in whether they reconcile as whether they reach the summit.
Running time: 92 minutes. Not rated (profanity). At the Cinema Village, 12th Street and University Place.