After the deaths of three members of a community of BASE jumpers a subculture for people who leap from mountain tops someone inquires “What is this stupid thing they do. One of the jumpers we follow for seven years says: “You jump, and you fall. But when you jump for a wingsuit, you fly.” And we are presented with the philosophical question: “Is it acceptable to do something for such a risk for pleasure .”
The documentary “Fly” is about BASE jumpers: people who jump from very high places. It has breathtaking pictures of the most picturesque mountains and canyons of the planet as well as dramatic GoPro camera views that provide a bird’s eye view from the jumpers’ perspective as they are soaring through the air. It is at times exhilarating and at times ghastly as we watch and listen to fatal tragedies.
BASE is an acronym for the four categories of structures from which one can jump: buildings, antennas, spans (bridges), and Earth (cliffs). Cliff or ledge Base Jumping is the primary focus & purpose of this film, and its seen all across the globe: in the Alps in Europe, in Korea and Utah’s Moab region. For these people, the whole world is divided into two categories: places to jump from and everywhere else.
They can only see two types of people. There are BASE jumpers and, well, the rest. People in the first category definitely do not like the idea of living the ‘everyone else’ life, which includes going to school, getting employed or having kids. Each spouse is also married to someone from a different country for a reason. The jumper’s community is rather small, but they do not have culture or language in common, rather, it is the passion for the jump that brings them together, the passion for conquering the sky even at the risk of their lives.
The best part is that Jimmy and Marta are amongst the leaders of the jumper community. And party’s with since there is no woman who does not find jumping like flying beautiful, witty, spirited, who is also a man who is high. As me, who’s the only woman who I married, Jimmy already married the woman who taught him how to BASE jump. The thing is, he is falling in love with Marta, a Brazilian girl. Jimmy’s in love with jumping and together they started a company selling equipment and teaching people how to jump. And party like Burning man, but ‘jumper’ style!
Among the many accomplishments that he has achieved, Jimmy expresses special delight scrolling through Moab and discovering a new brain twister he can name. For this new challenge, Jimmy has settled on the name “Dragon’s Nest”. During the year, at a party where everyone is sure that this or that jumper will be killed in accidents before the next meeting, they make group pictures.
Scotty and Julia are yet another Americano Brasileiro relation and they also teach how to BASE jump. It was always a tough life for Scotty when he was in the army, however, he found his niche in jumping. He states that he has jumped at least once in a week for nine years. For Julia, jumping became her full time job after leaving a legal career.
Another example are Norwegian Espen and UK Amber who are professional sport jumpers. As we learn in the film, while a few years ago it was the case that the jumpers were treated like criminals, now it is just a sport and bang its a show in Super Bowl 2020 too. Last time, Espen and Amber were not only jumpers they performed, unimaginably, synchronized routine in the air.
Fly is willing to take it a step further in examining of the risks and responsibility, or rather the lack thereof when it comes to the athletes than “Skywalkers: a love story” however perhaps not far enough. The BASE jumpers acknowledge that the sport is entirely “selfish” and say they are aware of what the risks entail. Some even accept that it is the left ones who suffer from bereavement. She is left as an impact when we see her husband battered and very badly injured.
The body cameras and microphones offer some of the most stunning visuals and even heart stopping jumps. But they also give us the opportunity to witness and hear the aftermath of when it goes wrong as well, although there seems to be a disjointed sense of horror on our end compared to the cool headedness of the other jumpers. Two of their subjects are asked by the filmmakers why there is a need to film them, if they will not be alive to watch it. Only one provides an answer, and it is heartrending. Not everyone is able to apply their head around the fact that every moment in time matters however “Fly” will explain as to how and why this is essential.
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