finebeanies

"You got me?" "I got you!"

These reassuring words cannot diminish the heart stopping action of Orlando Bloom and his climbing coach Mo Beck. They undertake several training climbs in Moab as they prepare to ascend a spectacular pinnacle. Orlando is physically strong but inexperienced in climbing. Mo is a very knowledgeable, confident and reassuring coach.

The training climbs are exhausting and Orlando is not sure if he can complete them. Climbing on these natural rock formations is risky. He is inspired by the group of climbers who have various disabilities but amazing climbing skills. I was sitting at the edge of my seat while watching the final climb and gained a special respect for Orlando, Mo and the supporting team.

Spectacular scenery accompanied this informative and inspiring documentary.

I enjoyed seeing how today"s miners work in the mines, where and how they spend time between their shifts and how they relate to each others. The story is centered around Maxime's relationships. I found myself cheering for him where he attempts to help his handicapped buddy but disappointed where he lashes out with seemingly uncaring acts against others, especially where it is endangering them. His character seemed a bit incongruent but it did not diminish my interest in watching as the story unfolded. Acting is great and the realistic environment drew me in even if the behaviour was sometimes out of character.

This a real story of a strong woman, a skilled bee-keeper, living in a remote location of Macedonia. There is no acting involved in this intimately filmed documentary. It depicts how she understands the balance of nature and how her life is shaped by traditions and respecting that balance. The interactions with her neighbours are so real that you feel like you are intruding. When their greed and disrespect causes irreparable damage to her bees, she responds with dignity and perseverance. Incredible film-making that left me enriched by such powerful message. This is a microcosm of how important it is to protect the balance in nature.