The documentary films ‘Touching the Void’ and ‘Bigger Stronger and Faster’ have been revealed to match with each other on various aspects as well as contrasting in others. In this regard therefore, the developers of the films can be described to have been similar ideas on the process of developing them. In this case, various actors and styles used to develop the films have been observed to portray similar characteristics and in which the two movies seem to interplay in some scenes. However, there have been several incidents in the films where the various styles and actors seem to contrast with each other creating a distinction between the two genres. In addition, to being similar in styles and characterization, the films also portray some link in their background settings and presentation. This paper would present an insight of the comparison and the contrast that exist between the two films; ‘Touching the Void’ and ‘Bigger, Stronger and Faster’ (Garcia, 2005).
As observed in the two main actors of the film ‘Touching the Void’, Yates and Simpson, a high degree of their determination and courageousness is depicted. More specifically, the attempt of Yates and Simpson to climb a very steep cliff fearlessly and looking very determined presents them as being very determined and courageous. Similarly, Christopher and his two brothers in the film ‘Bigger, Stronger and Faster’ are portrayed to be having the same characteristic traits. As the film unfolds, Chris, Mark and Mike seem to be very much determined to be like remarkable people including Arnold Schwarzenegger; in which they engage in drug abuse practices. In this case, these three actors are portrayed to be very determined in ensuring that, ‘they attain the positions held by remarkable people like Arnold Schwarzenegger as Chris (2008, 39) depicts.
More so, a high degree of creativity is observed in Yates and Simpson in the film ‘Touching the Void’; on their scheming plan of climbing such a steep cliff. In this case, their scheme of tying the ropes to be used to climb the cliff is of special technique in which they put into consideration all the expected risks and uncertainties. As Joe (2002, 29) describes it, the two tie two ropes jointly in which the knot could not pass into the barley penchant. By so doing their climbing of the cliff was assured, as they believed, which makes them to be highly creative. Similarly, Chris and his two brothers in the film ‘Bigger, Stronger and Faster’ can be portrayed to be creative in a way. As the films depicts, Christopher and his two brothers used to practice in fitness center chambers where they are brought out as having remarkable techniques in fitness center on their pursuit to be like remarkable Celebes like Arnold Schwarzenegger. At one instance, Chris created various anabolic steroids which they believed to be holding the power to make an individual more superior.
In terms of style, the two films can be described as having an intertwined presentation style and techniques. More specifically, various styles that are used in developing the play ‘Touching the Void’ can also be seen to feature in the film ‘Bigger, Stronger and Faster’. By so doing the developers of the two films can be seen to be having a common focus in their art work. More precisely, the films are presented with a variety of stylistic devises which makes the audience to have an anxiety of what would follow after a scene ends (Garcia, 2005).
In the film ‘Touching the Void’, a lot of suspense can be seen to constitute the entire film from its beginning to its end. In this case, the journey by Yates and Simpson is full of suspense where a series of events create an urge to move to the next scene and see what would happen next. For instance, after Yates breaks his knee as result of slipping on a ice cliff, the film leaves the audience with an urge of knowing whether their journey would be successful or not. In fact, as the scene ends, a very great urge in the audience is created so as to know whether Yates would make to accomplish their mission or not. In this case, audience ensures that they know what proceeds in the next scenes due to the suspense left in each scene (Marshall, 2003).
Similarly, a lot of suspense is also created in the film ‘Bigger, Stronger and Faster’ in which the various scenes of the film leave the audience with anxiety. As the film unfolds, Chris and his brother, Mark and Mike are brought out as being in great desire to be like various remarkable people like Arnold Schwarzenegger. In this case, the film leaves the audience to know what would follow as Chris and his brothers engage in various activities in their pursuit to emulate various Celebes. More specifically, the film depicts a series of action plans by Chris and his brother as they seek to be bigger, stronger and faster as the film name suggests. Actually, each scene in the film presents a different plan of action by Chris and his brothers where the audience is left with the anxiety to know what they would emerge into. By so doing the film leaves the audience with a lot of suspense of not knowing what would follow afterwards in the subsequent scenes (Sheppard, 2008).
Further, the films are presented with a high degree of imagery in which their developers leave the audience with mental pictures of the entire films. As the title of the film ‘Touching the Void’ suggests, the audience is actually left in the suspense of knowing how the void can be touched. By so doing the film developer creates some images in the minds of the audience on how possible the void can be touched. Similarly, the film ‘Bigger, Stronger and Faster’ is also built with a lot of imagery in which the audience is left to figure out how bigger, stronger or faster the subject would be. As the film unfolds, the audience is doubtlessly left to follow various scenes with a lot of urge of knowing how bigger, stronger or faster Chris and his brothers would be in their pursuit of celebrity. Generally, the two films ‘Touching the Void’ and ‘Bigger, Stronger and Faster’ are presented with a high degree of imagery where the audience is initial mental images of the general scope concerning the movies (Garcia, 2005).
Conversely, the films ‘Touching the Void’ and ‘Bigger, Stronger and Faster’ have shown, to an extent, some contrast in their development. Following their general scope, some instances on the unfolding of events seem to contrast with each other in one or two aspects. For instance, the film ‘Touching the Void’ is presented to portray individuals who are adventurous in various natural settings where they make incredible moves in attempting to do highly risky practices. More precisely, Yates and Sampson are brought out as adventurous in highly risky activities of climbing steep ice cliff. In this case, these two actors are in most cases interacting with their physical environment by interacting with it to great depths in which their desires were never satisfied (Marshal, 2003)
On the other hand, the film ‘Bigger, Stronger and Faster’ present actors whose passion and desires is to emulate other superior people in their society. As the film depicts, Chris and his brothers are in great pursuit of becoming as famous as Arnold Schwarzenegger and other Celebes in their society. In this case, these actors are seen to be more interested in the social environment in which their passion and desires are embedded on other people’s achievements. This is evident in Chris’ words, “No matter what it takes we will not tolerate sluggishness in becoming what we want to be” as put forward by Marshall (2007, 26). More specifically, the contrast between the films comes in as in the film ‘Touching the Void’, the main characters have great passion and interest in the physical environment whereas in the film ‘Bigger, Stronger and Faster’, the main characters are much interested in the social environment.
Perhaps, the two films contrast in the way various concepts are presented in which each presents similar concepts in a different way. For instance, the concept of selflessness is being presented in the two films but each presents it in its own way and style. As the film ‘Touching the Void’ unfolds, Yates is being brought out as selfless in his attempts of adventuring into ice cliffs. In this case, he is brought out in the film as being very willing and ready to do anything in his pursuit to satisfy his desires of going up the ice cliffs. On this basis, the film ‘Touching the Void’ presents Yates as a young man whose urge and desires to explore something are not easily stopped by anything even to the point of risking his own life (Barnes and Frederick, 2003).
On the other hand, Chris and his brothers in the film ‘Bigger, Stronger and Faster’ are brought out as selfless by engaging into drug abuse. As it is in the film, the three brothers engage in taking a variety of drugs in their pursuit to become like their mentors. In this regard, the selflessness of these three actors in the film ‘Bigger, Stronger and Faster’ is embedded on their involvement in drug abuse in which they risk their lives as they seek to become as famous as Arnold Schwarzenegger and other Celebes in their society. Generally, the main difference here between the two films in this concept of selflessness is the way the scenes presenting the same are brought out (Chris, 2008).
The films ‘touching the void’ and ‘Bigger, Stronger and Faster’ have been revealed to interplay in various aspects as well as contrasting in others. As the films depict, various character traits of different actors are brought out to be similar as well as contrasting in some other scenarios. Further, the thematic presentations in the two plays are found to be having some similarities and differences in various aspects. On this basis, the films ‘Touching the Void’ and Bigger, Stronger and Faster can be described as interrelated both thematic and style presentations. Generally, the films have been observed to relate with each other by providing the audience with both similar and contrasting characters, styles and themes in their presentations.
Reference list
Barnes, Edwards & Frederick, Maxwell. 2003. Touching the Void, Joe Simpson’s Book Review. New York: Routledge Publishers.
Bigger, Stronger, Faster. DVD. Directed by Chris, Bell. 2008. Columbus: BSF Films, 2008.
Chris, Bell. 2008. Bigger, Stronger and Faster. New York: Harcourt Publishers.
Garcia, Isaac. 2005. Book Review: Touching the Void. London: Macmillan Publishers.
Marshall, John. 2007. Bigger, Stronger, Faster Film Review. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Shepard, Greg. 2008. Bigger Faster Stronger: Steroid use in America. New York: Human Kinetics Publishers.
Touching the Void. DVD. Directed by Simpson, Joe. 2002. New York: BSF Films, 2004.