Where to Watch
Checking availability in your country…
Cast
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1982
Runtime0h 27m
LanguageFrench
CertificationNR
GenresDocumentary
Votes6
DirectorJean-Paul Janssen
WritersJean-Paul Janssen
TypeFeature Film
Rating7.8 out of 10
Cast1 credited
Also Known AsLife by the Fingertips
About Life by the Fingertips
Life By The Fingertips is a documentary film by Jean-Paul Janssen released in 1982, directing Patrick Edlinger totally living his passion, climbing, which he practices here solo ("with bare hands"), it that is, without a rope or any kind of insurance. The film begins with a session of solo sea crossings on the Piade site near Toulon. In the second part, Patrick Edlinger trains in Buoux before carving a solo route in this now famous climbing site. This mythical film in more than one way is considered the first climbing film, that is to say where climbing is an activity in itself and not a means of preparing for mountaineering. His media success was such that he propelled Patrick Edlinger to the rank of world star, and above all he made climbing known to the general public, and was even nominated for the César for best documentary short film.
Directed by Jean-Paul Janssen, Life by the Fingertips leans on a strong ensemble — Patrick Edlinger — 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 1982.
Read More on the Blog
You Might Also Like
More like Life by the Fingertips, picked from what people are watching
7.9Free Solo
2018 7.9
Follow Alex Honnold as he attempts to become the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite's 3,000 foot high El Capitan wall. With no ropes or safety gear, this would arguably be the greatest feat in rock climbing history.
Free Solo
2018
7.7Valley Uprising
2014 7.7
In the shady campgrounds of Yosemite valley, climbers carved out a counterculture lifestyle of dumpster-diving and wild parties that clashed with the conservative values of the National Park Service. And up on the walls, generation after generation has pushed the limits of climbing, vying amongst each other for supremacy on Yosemite's cliffs. "Valley Uprising" is the riveting, unforgettable tale of this bold rock climbing tradition in Yosemite National Park: half a century of struggle against the laws of gravity -- and the laws of the land.
Valley Uprising
2014
7.5Skyscraper Live
2026 7.5
No ropes. No fear. Free solo legend Alex Honnold risks it all in a high-stakes, live ascent of one of the world's tallest skyscrapers in Taipei, Taiwan.
Skyscraper Live
2026
7.314 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible
2021 7.3
In 2019, Nepalese mountain climber Nirmal “Nims” Purja set out to do the unthinkable by climbing the world’s fourteen highest summits in less than seven months. (The previous record was eight years). He called the effort “Project Possible 14/7” and saw it as a way to inspire others to strive for greater heights in any pursuit. The film follows his team as they seek to defy naysayers and push the limits of human endurance.
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible
2021
8.0The Dawn Wall
2017 8.0
The definitive film on the climb that captured headlines and ignited imaginations worldwide. Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson ascend the hardest big wall of all time: a 19 day ascent of The Dawn Wall, on the 3,000 foot vertical face of El Capitan, in Yosemite National Park. The film travels deeper than the climb, digging into the history of the climbers and painting an intimate portrait of Caldwell's harrowing life experiences that culminated in a single-minded drive to complete this impossible climb. The Dawn Wall is a heart-warming and inspiring movie that celebrates perseverance, camaraderie, and the universal spirit of dreaming big, and never giving up.
The Dawn Wall
2017
7.8The Alpinist
2021 7.8
The life of Canadian mountain climber Marc-André Leclerc as he pushes the boundaries of climbing while on an expedition to Patagonia.
The Alpinist
2021
User Reviews
7.8
Community rating
Loading reviews…
From the Blog
All Posts
News
Spider-Man Brand New Day OTT Release Date: When and Where It Will Stream
Tom Holland’s biggest Spider-Man film yet is smashing records in theatres, and everyone is asking the same question: when does it hit OTT? Here is the latest, updated as it is confirmed.
News
Michael OTT Release Date: The Michael Jackson Biopic Streams August 29
The Michael Jackson biopic arrives on JioHotstar on August 29, 2026. Here is where to watch it, what you need, and why it is one of the year’s biggest music films.
News
Jana Nayagan OTT Release Date: When Vijay’s Film Streams on ZEE5
Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan is headed to ZEE5 for its digital premiere. Here is the latest on its OTT release date and where to watch, updated as news is confirmed.