Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Female climber overcomes obstacles; peril, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Here to Climb
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Since she was a child, Sasha DiGiulian has wanted to climb things. In HERE TO CLIMB we watch little Sasha climb gym walls. Quickly she begins winning competitions. Soon she's transitioned to outdoor climbs and starts racking up firsts. She was the first woman in decades to climb the Eiger North Face. There are climbs in Canada, Madagascar, Brazil, and other locales. When her accomplishments were downplayed by naysayers, she led all-female teams on difficult climbs around the world. Hip injuries and five surgeries sidelined her but she trained and got back to a challenging project—El Gigante in Mexico—which she and a female climbing partner summitted. In order to make a living as a climber, DiGiulian said yes to every sponsor that made her an offer, including fitness brands and tires. That, too, garnered resentment from the male climbing community. Because she is attractive and female, it seems, she got hate online from male climbers who wanted to downgrade her accomplishments.
Is It Any Good?
Here to Climb is spectacular to look at. The cinematography is breathtaking at times, with close-ups of the climbers thousands of feet up, hanging in the air by ropes, dragging themselves up sheer rock faces by their fingertips. Microphones let us hear their conversations and decision-making and hang out with them as they camp on the mountains during multi-day ascents.
As a young talent, Sasha was lucky to have an older veteran climber, Lynn Hill, as a mentor, supporter, and friend. Male critics call DiGiulian out for "sexualizing" the sport, using her good looks to garner likes on Instagram. She described one critic as a "cyberbully" who "mocked me for being obese." She retaliated and, according to some, "nuked him on social media. He lost his livelihood." DiGiulian is unapologetic for being both a great climber, a self-advertiser, and a woman. "I love to climb hard and I love to wear pink."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why DiGiulian has detractors. What do you think her critics dislike about her?
Do you think some of her detractors resent her because she is a successful female in a male-dominated pursuit? What are some facts that might support that supposition?
Do you think DiGiulian is hard-working? What are some ways the movie shows her work ethic?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : June 18, 2024
- Directors : Ricki Stern , Anne Sundberg
- Studio : HBO Max
- Genre : Documentary
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- Run time : 79 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : July 18, 2024
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