Thanks to a collaboration between National Geographic and Warehouse Four, two award winning National Geographic documentaries ‘Free Solo’ and ‘Jane’ are about to get their big screen debut in Dubai.
Recent Oscar winning documentary ‘Free Solo’ profiles professional rock climber Alex Honnold on his quest to conquer the first free solo climb of famed El Capitan’s 900-metre vertical rock face at Yosemite National Park.
“We are proud to bring to the UAE community this ‘Free Solo’ big screen experience. Viewers immersed themselves fully in this extraordinary documentary, which captures the essence of National Geographic’s visual storytelling as well as its mission to celebrate the human spirit of adventure. We are here to encourage the explorer in everyone,” said Sanjay Raina, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Fox Networks Group.
As of February, 2019, ‘Free Solo’ has grossed $16.3 million in the United States and Canada and $2.8 million in other territories. The film has also received numerous accolades including a BAFTA for Best Documentary and more recently ‘Best Documentary Feature’ at the 91st Academy Awards.
“We’re super excited to partner with National Geographic to be able to screen these two amazing documentaries at Warehouse Four,” Said Ian Carless, Partner at Warehouse Four. “In today’s social and political climate there’s a huge appetite for factual entertainment. Many documentary films now compete with their Hollywood counterparts and both ‘Jane’ and ‘Free Solo’ are exemplary pieces of film making.”
Using a trove of never-before-seen footage, ‘Jane’ tells the story of primatologist, Jane Goodall’s early explorations and research in Tanzania, focusing on her groundbreaking field-work, her relationship with her cameraman and husband Hugo van Lawick, and the chimpanzees that were the subject of her study.
Both films will be screened at the independent event venue, Warehouse Four which previously screened the award winning cycling documentary, ‘MAMIL’ (Middle Aged Men In Lycra.) Both screenings are by invitation only.
WHAT THE CRITICS SAY… ‘FREE SOLO’
“His is daring, dangerous and dizzying stuff, the story of a one man simultaneously in competition and cooperation with nature. Meet Tom Cruise’s hero, probably.” Helen O’Hara – Empire Magazine
Free Solo is an engaging study of a perfect match between passion and personality.” Jeannette Catsoulis – The NYTimes
“This often breathtaking real-life man-against-nature adventure is the second film co-directed by Jimmy Chin, who in 2015 made ‘Meru.’” Ann Hornaday – Washington Post
“A heart-stopping account of an ostensibly impossible endeavor.” Joe Morgenstern – Wall Street Journal
WHAT THE CRITICS SAY… ‘JANE’
“A spellbinding trip into the wild with Jane Goodall.” ★★★★★ Chris Harvey – The Guardian
“Brett Morgen’s portrait of wildlife expert Jane Goodall reveals a poised, articulate woman who changed the way we think about primates.” ★★★★ Wendy Ide – The Observer
“Brett Morgen’s absorbing documentary tells the story of Jane Goodall largely through footage of her expeditions.” Ben Kenigsberg – The NYTimes
“At its best, ‘Jane’ lets the footage speak for itself, as when we watch the organically developing drama unfold when chimpanzees tentatively approach Goodall and her camp to eat bananas.” Pat Padua – Washington Post
“’Jane’ honors its subject’s legacy with an absorbing, beautifully filmed, and overall enlightening look at her decades of invaluable work.” Rotten Tomatoes – Tatometer – 98% / Audience score – 86%
Located in the center of Dubai, Warehouse Four is one of Dubai’s leading independent event venue and regularly plays host to a varaiey of events including product launches, brand activations, workshops, training sessions and more.