BURNING THE FLAME

Featuring: Barbara Zangerl and Jacopo Larcher

Location: Nameless Tower, Pakistan

Duration: 50 minutes

The story profiles two of the world’s best climbers, big wall free climbing masters Babsi and Jacopo, as they take on a free ascent of Eternal Flame, an elusive 1,000 metre route up the legendary Nameless Tower in Pakistan’s Karakoram range.

“We’d been working on and off on this film for years,” said Zac.

“Babsi and Jacopo are both quiet and humble and unassuming. We wanted to make a film that highlighted what phenomenal climbers they are, but also find a way to get to know them a little better.”

Reel Rock joined them in Pakistan for a few weeks in 2021, then returned the following year where they caught the short weather window needed for the high altitude ascent. Using drones and on-mountain cameras in one of the most remarkable places on earth, Reel Rock was able to film their journey up the mountain.

“The imagery for that film is just stunning. A lot of climbers say it’s the most beautiful rock climb in the world,” said Zac.

“We really get to be with them on the expedition and as they make their way up the mountain. We feel like we get to see it in real time, it unfolds like a sporting event on TV.”

And if the breathtaking footage inspires you to visit Pakistan, Zac also noted that it wasn’t too hard to get access there as there is a whole industry around trekking and tourism

Dna

Featuring: Seb Bouin

Location: Verdon Gorge, France

Duration: 30 minutes

The film follows Seb Bouin, a 29-year-old French sport climber, who has been steadily working his way through the grades.

The route he is attempting to establish, DNA, is in an overhanging cave in the Verdon Gorge of France.

“DNA is the story of what is quite possibly the world’s hardest rock climb,” according to Zac.

“For the last few years that [record has] been held by Adam Ondra for a climb in Norway… it’s not a pretty climb, it’s just a hard climb—it was a way for Adam to find the hardest possible, weirdest moves,” explained Zac.

“The route DNA that Seb did in France is the opposite of that.

It’s the most beautiful rock, the moves he does are gymnastic, physical and just fascinating. He moves in this very fluid, dynamic, wild modern style.”

Over 250 gruelling days, Seb attempts the line again and again. As he works the route, the story also explores his relationship with his mother—the route name being a reference to the climbing genes passed on from his mother’s side.

“He lives and climbs with his mother who works on an organic farm nearby up above the cliff,” explains Zac.

“We see Seb’s lifestyle and secret powers that came from his mother.”