Plot Summary
On April 26, 2003, avid mountaineer Aron Ralston goes hiking at Utah’s Canyonlands National Park without telling anyone. He befriends lost hikers Kristi and Megan and gives them directions. While guiding them, he shows them an underground pool. The three have fun, and that afternoon, the girls invite him to a party that is being held the following night. Aron expresses half-hearted interest and says goodbye to the girls, who head home. He continues through a slot canyon in Bluejohn Canyon.
While climbing, an 800-pound (360 kg) boulder he is hanging off comes loose and causes both to fall, which traps his right arm against the wall. Aron attempts to move the boulder, but it does not budge; he also soon realizes he is alone. He shortly begins recording a video diary using his camcorder to maintain morale as he chips away parts of the boulder with a pocket knife. At one point, the knife falls off his hand, and he is forced to use his bare feet and a little branch to recover it. Over the next five days, Aron rations his food and remaining 300ml of water, struggles to keep warm at night, and is forced to drink his urine when his water runs out.
He also sets up a pulley using his climbing rope in a futile attempt to lift the boulder. Throughout the days, Aron becomes desperate and depressed and begins hallucinating about escape, relationships, and past experiences, including his family and his former girlfriend, Rana. He also imagines going to the party he was invited to and having fun. During one hallucination, Aron realizes his mistake was that he did not tell anyone where he was going or for how long. Aron has a vision of his future son on the sixth day, spurring his will to survive.
Meet the Cast
Info & Stats
Director:
Danny Boyle
Writers:
Aron Ralston, Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy
Stars:
James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara
Categories:
Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Budget:
$18,000,000.00
Revenue:
$35,700,000.00
Age: RÂ Â |Â Â Duration: 1h 34m
Watch the Trailer