This film has been awaited with an eagerness usually reserved for overdue guidebooks, and marks a distinct shift in style from all previous British climbing films. For 64 minutes we are taken on a guided tour through the subculture of grit stone climbing, starting with a selective, and thoroughly amusing history, through to the climbs and climbers at the cutting edge. The style focuses on the climbing, rather than the climbers. The broad range of climbers (which is so comprehensive that a list would be rather long winded) featured seems to temper down the egotism that has pervaded other titles in this genre.

*** Contains Bonus "Hard Plastic" feature - 1997 Internationl Bouldering Open at the Foundry, UK. ***

Hard Plastic is a roller-coaster ride through the blood, sweat and tears of the Men’s Final in the renowned Foundry International Bouldering Open of ’97. This memorable clash of plastic-pulverising crimp-mutants features world stars Chris Sharma (below), Arnaud Petit, Christian Brenna, Elie Chevieux, Ian Vickers (left) and Ludovic Laurence at their finger-ripping best.

Guest ‘power pundit’ Jerry Moffatt accompanies an excitable commentary from Albert Spansworthy.

Release Date: 1997
Running time: 80 Minutes (64 mins (main feature) plus second feature) 

PAL Format DVD