Rayu

Reel Rock S8 E1. Elite sport climbers Sasha DiGiulian and Matilda Söderlund team up with trad specialist Brette Harrington to attempt a free ascent of the 2,000-foot alpine rock route, Rayu – a 5.14 in Spain's Picos de Europa. Unrepeated since its first ascent by the Basque Pou brothers and Kiko Cerdá in 2020, Rayu combines heady trad climbing with a burly sport crux on a steep headwall a thousand feet off the deck. Living on the wall for days on end, the team battles stormy weather, loose rock, and the tension between personal goals and group success. As their psyches and fingertips fray, this adventure classic keeps you right on the edge.

Directed by —, Rayu leans on a strong ensemble — Sasha DiGiulian, Matilda Söderlund, Brette Harrington — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2022.