World class climberJimmy Chinmet his future wife, filmmakerChai Vasarhelyi, over a mountain of footage.
Perhaps because he was so close to the subject matter, the film wasnt quite cohering.
I knew that she had quite an accomplished career as a filmmaker, Chin said.
Jimmy Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi attend the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2021 in Telluride, Colorado.Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images
So, I asked her to screen what I had cut so far.
Just seeing the world through Jimmys lens was astonishing, and it was inspiring, Vasarhelyi said.
Feelings of a deeper sort soon kindled between the cinematic collaborators.
Directors Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin appear at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen on Tuesday, March 21, 2023Courtesy of Matthew Carey
Jimmy and I began kind of falling in love in this process, Vasarhelyi said.
The question was whether these three mountain climbers would show up emotionally.
Conrad and Renan really showed up.
I remember Conrad sat for a seven-hour interview and cried.
But then he had this awakening and said, This is not enough.
Its not what I want to do.
And then he leaves everything behind to go to Patagonia [Chile].
And then she too was like, This is not my life.
This is not where it can end.
I dont want it to end here.
And she found the love of her life [Doug Tompkins] in her 40s.
So, I think theres something about this regeneration that really moved me.
The Tompkins created a life together in Chile.
That story to me was deeply personal and also hugely inspiring.
Several years ago, Vasarhelyi and Chin embarked on a different kind of adventure parenting.
We have two wonderful kids, she said.
Im having an active, I dont know, wrestling match inside me.
Like, this is a risky endeavor, even if youre the best.
And weve spent some time looking at that question.
