Looking Up is a documentary that chronicles the ascent of one of the largest granite cliffs in the world. But it is also an intimate portrait of a life lived in the face of extraordinary challenges and circumstances, of choice, of possibilities and new definitions of personal limits. The film tells the story of Eitan, from the traumatic moment of receiving a diagnosis that changes his life to the dizzying heights of one of the world’s most challenging climbs. The result is an invitation to a new way of seeing the world around us.
Eitan’s gets diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), an untreatable genetic disorder that slowly but surely takes away a person’s sight. In the prime of his life, Eitan is medically discharged from the army with only about five percent of his central vision left. But Eitan has a decision to make. Does he give in to the permanent loss of his vision, or does he actively fight for his future? He decides on the latter and the fight he chooses is scaling Yosemite’s legendary El Capitan – an upward battle that perfectly represents everything Eitan is fighting to hold on to.
The most impressive feat of the film is the nature of Eitan’s physical journey and his day-to-day life. The description of the film teases us with a journey of learning to let go of what he can’t control and putting all his energy into what he can, and the film does not disappoint. We are right there with Eitan, perched on his tiny portaledge 1,500 feet above the valley floor.
The filmmaker balances the climbing portion of the movie by ensuring that the audience always keeps Eitan’s illness in the back of their minds. Candid camera work of Eitan as he takes public transportation, uses a cane to get around in New York City, and, of course, close ups of his face looking into the camera and otherwise taking in his surroundings lend perspective to the dangers that he is placing himself in while he is on the sheer face of the cliff.
For me, the most impactful aspect of the film was the story of the filmmaker herself. Elena Neuman was herself facing serious health issues as she made the documentary. In fact, Elena was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which gave her a deeper appreciation and understanding of the same traits we see in Eitan—bravery, optimism, and a fighting spirit. The final documentary is all the better for the direct and authentic perspective that she was able to give, both in the filming of the project and in her candid and thoughtful interview with me about hope, life, and resilience in the face of serious illness. Elena is a fantastic interviewee who is able to give serious and well-considered answers to many of the most difficult questions we all face when faced with life-changing or life-threatening challenges.
Another key part of the story is the connection that Eitan forges with other RP patients at a later stage in the disease. Eitan reaches out to other people with RP in New York to both connect and learn more about the experiences of those with RP further along the progression of the disease than he is. This is an important detail, as it grounds his goal as being about more than just him or his own fight against blindness. We also see a close personal connection between Eitan and his climbing mentor, Willie, a patient, climbing instructor and guide. Eitan clearly needs the safety net of a buddy when he is on the wall. No matter how determined or stubborn one may be, it is impossible to climb alone.
Looking Up is a true celebration of what humans can do if we set our minds to it. The cinematography is gorgeous, and the filmmakers take full advantage of the jaw-dropping setting of Yosemite National Park to make Eitan’s vision loss all the more poignant. The pace of the film does slow a bit during the climbing segments where it can be a little hard to keep up with the specifics of some of the technical challenges Eitan faces and how he overcomes them, but this did not keep me from staying engaged with the emotional aspects of the film. Overall, I can see this as a perfect teaching moment, as it is a great example of how one should always approach life’s challenges with a positive mindset and an indomitable will to keep going. This film is one that will make you feel and remind you that life really can surprise you in the best of ways, if you never give up. 4 out of 5 Stars.
