Back to business. What is this film?  Its a compilation of interviews, with each climber addressing similar topics from their unique perspective.  The visuals are either of the interview itself, or the audio is used as voice-over for climbing footage, most of which I think I’ve seen before elsewhere.  The topics cover the heavy stuff climbers deal with: risk, loss, pressure, consequences, desires. One complaint I would make is that unlike some other interview driven films (like Rocky Mountain Highball), the narrative doesn’t seem terribly structured – it flits from one topic to the next and then loops back on itself.  While that’s definitely how my brain works anyway, it left parts of the film feeling rudder-less.

I’m gonna be honest – I didn’t like this film at first.  I went so far as to text friends halfway in, asking if they’d seen it, and if I was just being critical.  It’s just not my kind of film; there’s no new footage of gnarly sending, there’s no blasting punk rock soundtrack, I knew all the punchlines that they hid for “big reveals” in the second act.  The things I disliked were the same things I disliked about ‘Free Solo’ – its not a climbing film, its a film about climbers.  Had I gone in with with difference expectations, I would have been more charitable.

That said, once into the second half, the tone shifted and I did enjoy the film significantly more. Fine Lines has a diverse cast across generations, gender, nationality, and disciplines.  Emily Harrington and Steph Davis really shine in the way they articulate things, and voices like Pasang Lhamu Sherpa and Pemba Gyalje Sherpa should be heard more often.  It deals with very serious subjects and you know that off the jump; it juxtaposes its interview with the late David Lama talking about his potential legacy and the news of his death in the first moments.

I’m glad I stuck with it until the end, even with my initial hesitation.  If you are looking for something that addresses the more thoughtful side of climbing, or just need a break from the normal go-go-go of the classics like Rampage and Dosage, check this one out.

Verdict: Stream it
Where to see it: Amazon Prime