Reviews

Film Review // From the Heart // by Ellie West

“Let nothing prevent you living that dream”

Alison O’Neill is a shepherdess like no other and this short film charts her thoughts and contemplations on life in the hills, being a woman and the inspiration that the landscape brings to her.  The visual imagery is stunning and her voiceover throughout the film takes us on the journey of her upbringing to her story of bringing up her daughter on her own as a shepherdess on a farm in the stunning Lake District.  

Film Review // Blue Hue // Natasha Brooks

Winner of our Women in Mountain Adventure film competition 2015 with the BMC, ShAFF and Sport is Beautiful this film is truly stunning. Charting Natasha Brooks’ exploration of wild swimming in the UK it is a visually arresting testament to what one woman can do with inspiration, an idea and the confidence to follow a concept in spite of what others might have to say about it.  The film features Natasha, as well as being self-shot & edited by Natasha, who is an artist based in Snowdonia.  It is accompanied by a stunning soundscape which captures the mood of the film perfectly.

Film Review // Aleksandra Taistra in Oliana // by Zofia Reych

Aleksandra ‘Ola’ Taistra is an incredibly well respected and accomplished sport climber from Poland.  This film is a short film about her climbing in Oliana and her climbing ambitions.

The film has some really nice shots, which work together to create a film that flows well.  Production quality is good – it’s all about the climbing, so you get a lot of bang for your buck.  A woman’s physiology is different to a man’s, so it’s important for women to be able to see other women climbing, to be able to learn and develop.  It’s a good showcase of what training and commitment can help you to achieve in climbing.

Film Review // 14 UK Summits 2014 // by Megan Loats

This short film charts Megan as she walks 14 summits in 2014.  What I really like about the film is its honesty in showing someone doing a challenge with friends and family, enjoying the outdoors without the need for fancy gear or specialist equipment.  The changing British weather is perfectly captured as Meg counts up on her fingers each summit as she reaches the top.  The film really encompasses lots that you might encounter on a hill walk in the uk – bad weather, poor visibility, scrambling, steep descents, lunch soon a rock in the wind.  What I like most is the smile on everyone’s face – they look like genuine smiles of people who are enjoying what they’re doing.

Film Review // Alpine Coast to Coast // Sophie Radcliffe

Before you read the review I urge you to watch the film:

Film Review // 3 | 6 | 5 // by Emma Whittaker

This incredibly short short film, weighing in at only 1min 46 seconds, is perfect evidence that a film doesn’t need to be hours long to inspire and engage.  The film reframes a year into seconds, minutes and hours to encourage reflection on what we actually do with that time, and what we could do if we took advantage of our time to do something out of the ordinary.

Film Review // Scaling the Whale // Shyla Lee

It’s tempting to think that only extraordinary athletes or ‘other people’ can get out into the mountains and enjoy what the hills have to offer.  This gentle, but inspiring short film documents a professional woman, over 30, using the hills as release from the pressures in everyday life, with work and other distractions placing increasing demands on us.  Shot very simply and taking the pace down a notch, and then some, the film’s pathos provides a great reminder of how entwined we are with busyness.

Film Review // Fran // by Jen Crook

An insightful short film, which looks into the life of Fran Brown, powerful athlete and world paraclimbing champion.  The film focusses on how Fran went from being in a wheelchair through a spinal cord injury to becoming a climbing world champion, through to her aspirations for the future.  What is interesting is the voice over of Fran talking about what doesn’t work in her body, alongside visuals of the body she has trained into doing things that you wouldn’t imagine someone with in a wheelchair could do.  It turns around your beliefs and gives a sense of the possiblities, in climbing and in life.  The film is incredibly understated – calm and reflective in manner – it’s an incredibly powerful piece of filmmaking.