Film
Blindsight
A documentary following six blind Tibetan teenagers as they attempt to climb the north face of Mount Everest alongside Erik Weihenmayer, a blind mountaineer. It's an extraordinary feat-of-endurance film, but its real power lies in what it says about capability, cultural connection, and how we see possibility. Inspiring without being saccharine.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you love true-life expedition stories where the drama is human rather than technical, and you want to watch a group of unlikely climbers find their own courage on a mountain that has nothing to prove.
Skip it if you want a tight, fast-moving thriller; this is a patient documentary of about 104 minutes that lingers on preparation, conversation and quiet moments between the climbs.
What it asks of you: Settle in for an unhurried, observational film with a steady rhythm, where attention to faces and small exchanges pays off more than any racing tension or spectacle.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Sherpa2015
A gripping documentary about the 2014 Everest avalanche and the Sherpa guides who risk their lives on the mountain. Captures the human cost and dignity of climbers whose labour often goes unseen.
But Darker and more tragic in tone than Blindsight; less about triumph, more about systemic exploitation and grief.
Free Solo2018
A taut, vertiginous portrait of rock climber Alex Honnold preparing for a climb with no ropes. Exceptional cinematography and genuine nail-biting tension—you feel the exposure.
But Focuses on one person's obsession rather than a group dynamic. Some find the repetition of risk-assessment conversations tedious.
Meru2015
Three elite climbers attempt a treacherous peak in the Indian Himalayas. Breathtaking cinematography and intimate portrait of obsession, fear, and what drives people to dangerous mountains.
But Very technical and climbing-focused; if you don't care about the sport itself, the extended sequences of rope-work may drag.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Blindsight
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Touching the Void2003
Both place you inside an impossible physical ordeal without sentimentality. The focus is on what bodies and minds can endure when systems fail, not on inspiration as commodity.
A masterpiece of survival storytelling: a climber abandoned on a mountainside must rappel down an unclimbed descent with a shattered leg. Reconstructed scenes woven with interview testimony create unbearable tension and a portrait of human resilience.
But The re-enacted sequences are sometimes awkwardly lit and the dated production style pulls you out of immersion.
More like this (6)
The Last Breath2014
A documentary about a commercial diver's catastrophic accident in the North Sea and his miraculous survival. Visceral, moving, and explores the psychology of trauma and recovery.
But Deeply claustrophobic and difficult to watch—the accident sequences are truly harrowing and not for the squeamish.
Blackfish2013
Documentary investigating the capture and captivity of orcas and the psychological toll on the animals and trainers. Compelling filmmaking with urgent social critique.
But May feel more activist polemic than balanced inquiry; some criticise the selective use of evidence and emotional manipulation.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi2011
A meditative documentary about an 85-year-old sushi master's obsessive pursuit of perfection. Gorgeously shot, philosophical, and captures the grace of mastery and dedication.
But Nearly plotless and very slow-paced. If you want narrative momentum or drama, this isn't it—it's pure mood.
The Act of Killing2012
An extraordinary, formally audacious documentary asking Indonesian death-squad perpetrators to reenact their murders. Unsettling and profound examination of accountability and performance.
But Extremely disturbing content involving depictions of real-world mass murder. Some question the ethics of the filmmaker's approach and whether it exploits perpetrators.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly2007
Like Blindsight, it dismantles assumptions about capability and what constitutes a liveable life. Both ask us to witness agency and joy in circumstances we'd expect to be defeated by.
A visual marvel about a man left completely paralysed (locked-in syndrome) learning to communicate through eye blinks. Poetic, tender, and uses cinema itself to convey what's trapped inside. Utterly unlike any other film.
But Extremely slow and patient; also genuinely sad. If you need plot momentum or emotional uplift, stay away.
Vessel2014
Both centre the voices and agency of people society has written off as passive. Both trust viewers to see humanity rather than lecture. Both are about expanding what's possible.
A quirky, intimate documentary about a woman's campaign to give poor women access to the abortion pill. It's funny, warm, and radically humane about bodily autonomy and dignity. An unlikely crowd-pleaser about a difficult subject.
But The casual tone might offend those with strong views against abortion; also very small in scale—some want their documentaries epically framed.
People
Cast
- Gavin AttwoodSelf
- Sally BergSelf
- Sonam BhumtsoSelf
- DachungSelf
- Jeff EvansSelf
- GyenshenSelf
Michael BrownSelf
Erik WeihenmayerSelf- Tashi PasangSelf
- Charley MaceSelf
Directing
- Lucy WalkerDirector
Production
- Steven HaftExecutive Producer
- Sybil RobsonProducer
Recommended by
Life, The Tripods, Patient Zero, Europa Report, The Age of Consequences, Hyperion