The Union Chapel in Islington, with it’s gothic style grandness, seemed a fitting venue for the premiere of Jeremy Jones’ ‘Higher’. The last in Jeremy Jones’ epic trilogy, ‘Higher’ is without doubt the most anticipated snowboarding film of the year and with queues snaking around the corner of Compton Street to gain entrance, the anticipation was reaching fever pitch.
With over 600 people packed into an arena fitting for a Royal performance, complete with an upper circle, we were entertained pre-screening with competitions run by the man himself and Ed Leigh. With the bar also packed for pre-drinks, it felt more like we were going to watch a West End show than a film.
“snowboarding doesn’t make sense on Wall street anymore, but it is as authentic and grassroots as it was back in the 90’s”
As the lights dimmed and the screen flickered into life, it felt as if we were in for something special and we were not disappointed. The actual film is a world away from the ‘Art Of Flight’ with it’s slick super slo-mo snowboarding and enough helicopters to fill in for extras in a Vietnam movie, and surprisingly, contained very little snowboarding!
The sport of snowboarding, like Jeremy Jones, has reached a new level of maturity which the filmmakers (Jeremy’s brothers) seemed very keen to reflect on. ‘Higher’ is not so much about the snowboarding but about the journey. We feel every step and every emotion of the epic journey as they travel through the Himalayas. From emotional scenes of Jeremy having to say goodbye to his family knowing how dangerous the trip would be, while claiming that leaving his kids without a father would make all his successes in the mountains irrelevant, to having to get out of the mountain camp tents repeatedly during the night, in a blistering storm, to shovel the snow away so they don’t get snowed in.
They climb precarious knife edge cliff tops and repeatedly have to turn back from making a line because of bad weather or fading light. In one particularly memorable scene, Jeremy takes 45 minutes to descend down which looks like an impossible vertical and icy line, where one slip could have had fatal consequences.
‘Higher’ is a rough cut diamond of a movie that is totally captivating. This is big mountain riding as it is supposed to be; friend and foe of mother nature and her elements. This is a film that not only captures the journey, but places an equal importance to the characters involved. From his family, to the mountain guides and villagers in the Himalayas; they all had their parts to play in this adventure. Of course, this film is not for everyone and if you want an adrenaline filled two hours of non-stop snowboarding, then you will be disappointed. But, there are plenty of other films out there to fill that void, ‘Higher’ offers something different.
The Q&A after the screening with Jeremy Jones was equally as insightful with Jeremy claiming that knowledge is freedom on the mountains and it is important not to get so hooked up on buying all the latest equipment and coolest transistors. He also said that during the filming, they had to turn back on 20-30% of their assents, while the whole time having to focus on reasons not to make the drop.
In another statement, Jeremy Jones claimed that snowboarding doesn’t make sense on Wall street anymore, but it is as authentic and grassroots as it was back in the 90’s.
If you enjoyed the other two films then you will love the climax of the trilogy. I highly recommend Jeremy Jones’ ‘Higher’ and it cements Jeremy’s iconic ‘Big Mountain’ rider status once and for all.
Higher
Jeremy Jones
Rating 5/5