His girlfriend is a b***h who's going to get him killed!
Hated her.
Thoughts?
She's a drag
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MovieChat Forums > Free Solo (2018) Discussion > His girlfriend is a b***h who's going to...
I didn't think she was a bitch at all. If anything, I sympathized somewhat with her for having to put up with all of his shit. The dude lives in a van (or did when they first met), doesn't eat meat, is emotionally detached, and regularly does something that could very likely end his life.
That's a lot to deal with. I'd say let's cut her some slack.
She knew what she was signing up to and still tried to get in the way of his climbing
shareYes, you're right about knowing what she was signing up for, but you really can't blame her for being concerned. What loving significant other would NOT be concerned when the person they've attached themselves to is out risking their life in wildly dangerous ways?
I have to think, for Alex, he's going to have to either choose between having a girlfriend who worries over him or being alone. Now that he does have somebody in his life, and also now that he has conquered El Capitan, I have to wonder if he even feels like he has anything left to prove at this point. Maybe that will be enough for him to call it a career in terms of free soloing.
If you'd actually paid attention to the film, you'd realize that SHE realized that she was getting in the way of his climbing... and deliberately left Yosemite rather than take the risk of interfering at a critical moment. Which was brave of her, unusually wise for a pretty girl in her twenties.
That was her at the Oscars with Honnold, wasn't it?
She also met him at a book signing.
Fame and a wallet is attractive to many.
If money was a significant factor for her though, she would NOT discourage him from continuing to climb without ropes. Because that is where the money comes from.
shareWhat he does was significant enough for her to go to a book signing.
Let's not pretend there isnt a fascination with the very fact that it's so dangerous.
And he already had the money and the fame for doing those things.
She knew who is and what he does. If he was the same person that you describe without the free soloing, do you think she'd be his girlfriend? He's not some dude. He's Alex Honnold.
I'm not saying that his notoriety wasn't significant in their meeting. What I am saying is that, now that they're together, it's obvious that she's genuinely worried about him and worried about losing him.
I'm not going to criticize her too harshly for that. What kind of relationship would it be if she DIDN'T worry?
Of course she's worried but also intoxicated that he's attempting something dangerous and impossible. Guys who risk their lives dont have problems attracting the ladies.
All I'm saying is that she's not a saint. It's a trade off. She'd never "put up" with all those traits and habits if he were just some guy. "Weird" becomes "eccentric" or "unique" when you have money and fame. And if you're the type to wait on line to get your book signed, you have a different level of interest in who he is and what he does. There might be some groupie in her.
Well I didn't say she's a saint. But I do push back against the notion that "she's a bitch" because she's actually worried about the very real possibility that he's going to die climbing without ropes. In fact, while I say possibility, frankly it seems like an inevitability if he doesn't quit while he's ahead before his physical abilities begin to fail him. You can't cheat death forever.
shareYou can cheat death forever if you were never being born. *point finger to temple*
shareI think you're right about the inevitable. And if we're right, when I hear the news I shall do what I did when Steve Irwin went. I didn't grieve, even though I was a huge fan, I saluted him for living life entirely on his own terms, living exactly as he wanted to live, even though he knew what could happen.
Anyone who takes on a romantic partnership with such a person is either a bit loopy themselves, or seriously in love.
Regarding Irwin, that was a particularly sad case. I was very sorry to hear that he had died--sorry both for him and for his family--but as you said, at least he went out on his own terms.
If you're not aware, his family actually just recently launched a new show on Animal Planet called "Crikey! It's the Irwins." It's not bad and it's interesting to catch up with Terri and the kids.
As for your last statement about a romantic partnership, I definitely would never do it. But didn't she meet him at a book signing or something like that? It seems she's infatuated.
Gawd, I'd never EVER get involved with someone who risks their life on a regular basis! Either I'm not brave enough to open my heart when it's that likely to get broken, or I have too much sense.
As to the book signing, well, everyone's got to meet somewhere, and I bet he meets a lot of athletic girls at book signings and other public events... and none of the other ones stuck around.
In case some of you are straight men and don't realize it, you should know that Honnold is a VERY attractive man, and not just because he's so incredibly fit. He's also funny, oddly charming, smart, and is one of the few adult men on the planet who says exactly what he means. I mean, a man with a body that good and who will never lie to you?? HAWT!!! If I met him in real life I'd definitely have a go, but no, I wouldn't stick around for the long term. Hardly anyone would, but she has.
They say there's someone for everyone. I'd like to think that's true.
I'm a bit surprised you were that impressed by his physique though. I've seen pictures of him where he looked pretty chiseled, but I remember when that scene in the film popped up and he was shirtless in the bed I was like, "Huh. I'd thought he'd be more ripped."
I probably won't keep up with his story long enough to find out, but I'd be interested in knowing if their relationship survives. Just based on what we see in the film, I think that for them to make it for the long-term he'll have to stop climbing without ropes. If he doesn't, it will probably get to the point where it's too much for her. The allure of being with "Alex Honnold" will wear off and she'll be less inclined to deal with the stress.
Honnold did his free solo in the spring of 2017 and they showed up at the Oscars this February as a couple, so I guess they've been a couple for... more than two years. Maybe three. Which is pretty good for someone like Honnold, who is so not relationship material.
And FYI nobody looks ripped and chiseled when they're lying relaxed in bed, not even bodybuilders. You actually have to flex the muscles to make them look impressive, and in every picture you've ever seen of a hunky shirtless man, they're flexing their muscles for all they're worth. Believe me, I've made something of a study of this issue.
As someone who's a fairly avid gym-goer, I don't feel like this is accurate.
If someone has a developed body, they can be just standing around and having a conversation and still look impressive. Not as impressive as if they were flexing, obviously, but they will still look good and it will be obvious they've worked on their physical development.
What's wrong with not eating meat?
shareI guess it's okay if you hook up with another person who doesn't eat meat, but if your significant other is a meat eater and you're not, then they're inevitably going to have to make a lot of accommodations for you that are just a pain in the ass.
shareI've been a vegetarian since I was 11. I've never have a problem with my girlfriends eating meat. I've never dated another vegetarian.
shareWell I think not giving your girlfriend shit for eating meat is probably a good effort on your part. Some vegetarians/vegans can get pretty self-righteous about that shit.
But it does seem like on a practical level there'd be some extra effort that must be made. For instance, I know if I was dating a girl who didn't eat meat, then when I cook I'd have to cook two meals: one for her and one for myself, because I pretty much require that any of my own meals have a healthy dose of meat.
Anyway, it's not a huge deal. I can just see it being one of many things that might require some extra effort on her part.
Yeah, preaching it is likely a turn off. But as far as cooking, even growing up I never had special meals at home. I was the only vegetarian in my family. I ate what everyone else did without the meat. I'm not married but I wouldn't ask for my wife to make anything different for me.
shareNo, Alex will eventually kill himself if he keeps free soloing.
I felt sorry for her because he didn't seem to appreciate her. He wasn't even denying that she's basically a servant and cum bucket to him.
Alex is clearly a narcissist with very little empathy for others. A jerk, possibly sociopathic, but to be fair to him he's very honest about how he thinks and how he is.
Sanni has no one to blame but herself if he mistreats her. She could get just about any guy she wants, but she seems to be in a phase where she wants to challenge herself by dating a callous, daredevil weirdo who lives in a van.
His Amygdala doesn't work like everyone else. For Alex, it's both a blessing and a curse. It makes him the amazing unique climber he is, but is also making him the person he is. His father had asburgers and died young, he likely has it too. I think you're being a bit hard on him. Yes, I agree, free soloing is not a life-long passion. It's death waiting to happen, but his brain is wired for it. I suspect anything less for him will also be a slow death sentence. I find him very likeable and courageous (even if I think it's all crazy risks).
I can't understand it, but I kinda get it too. Just watching his videos makes my hands sweat and squirm in my seat.
In his defense, having a relationship is probably not helping matters. She means well, but she puts doubt/fear in his head and forces him to consider her before his climbs and climbing with her resulted in injuries (whether coincidental or not). He may be unintentionally jerky at times from our perspective, but he's living honest and in the moment doing what he wants and that's a big deal. Now, if he has kids and continues, that's another story. He admits this, but persists. She knows, she can stay or go. Alex will go on either way.
There are lots of cliche stories about women who date/attract to race car drivers, boxers, football players, soldiers, and other dangerous occupations and then want to change them/hold them back. This is no different. Women like risk-takers and dudes with money/fame. That's what fires some of their amygdala's.
What does Star Wars got anything to do with this?
shareShe saw him as possibly the love of her life and was into the whole building a nest and having the pitter-patter of tiny feet in the near future. He saw her more as a woman he likes hanging around with, and was kind of just going along with her notions while planning towards his next climb. Clearly, there was an emotional imbalance in the relationship.
Although I find the idea of free solo climbing completely mental, it was/is obviously this guy's raison d'etre, and the thing that put him on this girl's radar in the first place and the thing that made him interesting to her. It's a catch-22. Convince him to give it up and he might live a long life, but he'd be dead inside.
She is not a bitch at all. She is extraordinarily accepting and tolerant, not only of his life-risking activities, but of his personality disorder. I like her a lot, but I feel sorry for her because eventually she's going to be hurt, either because he gets killed, or because his lack of empathy ruins the relationship for her.
shareI regret my use of the B word but I still dislike her.
shareNah she's a bitch, and she latched onto him like a parasite.
share>throws herself at guy famous for climbing mountains
>complains about him climbing mountains
Seriously, what the hell was her problem?
Nah. They deserved each other.
Alex said that he would always prioritize climbing than any girlfriend. When he was asked by the girlfriend what if he fall to the death, he said well what did she expect?
She keeps saying she's afraid that he might fall and die. Which is fair. When Alex was asked why hasn't he free solo'ed El Capitan yet at the beginning of the docu, he said this is El Capitan, he was afraid.
Alex was afraid. No amount of balls make you fearless. What do you expect for the girlfriend? She can't be afraid too?
Everytime Alex free solos he overcomes his fear. She does too. The difference is just that he also trains his physics but both he and the girlfriend do the mental part.
When Alex was told that he can cancel this at any time before doing it. He said, yes he knows that he can cancel everything, but he doesn't want to. The girlfriend can also leave him at any time, but she doesn't want to. Same train of tought.